Development and Animal testing of Resuscitation Fluids Based on Blood-Soluable Drag- Reducing Polymers

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Marina, Kameneva, PhD

McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine
University of Pittsburgh

Acute hemorrhage remains the leading cause of death on the battlefield. Fluid resuscitation is still an important treatment for injured soldiers, but the optimal fluid and resuscitation strategy remains unknown. The objectives of this research are to continue development of a novel resuscitation fluid based on drag-reducing polymers which were shown to improve survival after lethal hemorrhagic shock in rats, to evaluate in large animal models the effects of blood soluble drag-reducing polymers (DRPs) as a rescue therapy for severe hemorrhagic shock and to investigate the potential benefit of this novel resuscitation fluid in reducing fluid requirements and improving the large animal’s hemodynamic and metabolic response to severe hemorrhage. The research team at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine (MIRM) will continue work on the development of DRPs biocompatible and suitable for the use in resuscitation fluids. The research team at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR) will perform animal testing of the resuscitation fluids based on the DRPs provided by MIRM using acute porcine models of severe hemorrhage.