BROOKLYN – A groundbreaking gel designed to instantly halt bleeding is currently being crafted in a sterile facility located in Brooklyn, with plans for nationwide distribution on the horizon.
A Revolutionary Solution: Introduction to TraumaGel
Known as TraumaGel, this innovative, plant-based product originated from a teenager’s discovery and has the potential to significantly change the emergency response practices of EMTs and hospitals.
Mechanism of Action: How TraumaGel Works
Manufactured by Cresilon Inc. in Industry City, Brooklyn, every syringe of TraumaGel is produced under strictly controlled sterile conditions. The gel, which bears a resemblance to hummus, is engineered to instantly stop bleeding when applied to moderate to severe wounds. It utilizes long polymer chains to maintain pressure from both sides of the wound, effectively creating a seal that halts blood loss and buys valuable time for responders.
According to Joe Landolina, co-founder of Cresilon Inc., “The polymer chains in here are long. They’re almost on a millimeter scale. And so that means that it’s only a couple atoms wide, but very, very long chains that can hold from either side of the wound and maintain that pressure.”
The Origins: From Lab Experimentation to FDA Approval
The journey of TraumaGel began in an unexpected setting—a makeshift laboratory in a Hudson Valley vineyard. Joe Landolina, then a teenage innovator from Brooklyn, was experimenting with algae and biomaterials when he developed a unique adhesive compound that bonded with skin. This initial breakthrough ignited his enthusiasm for biotechnology, paving the way for a larger endeavor as he enrolled at NYU at just seventeen.
Landolina recounted, “I was trying to extract polymers out of algae for something else, as you do as a 17-year-old, and I noticed that this material I made would stick to skin, and it wouldn’t let go until I wanted it to.”
From Veterinary Use to Human Application
In 2010, while still a college student, Landolina co-founded Cresilon with Isaac Miller, launching the veterinary version known as Vetigel, which was specifically developed to stop bleeding in animals. With over 65,000 animals treated across 34 countries, Vetigel laid the foundation for developing TraumaGel aimed at human use.
Field Testing and Efficacy
Following FDA approval in 2022, TraumaGel was introduced through pilot programs in cities such as Boston, New Orleans, Denver, and Columbus. EMTs reported using the gel on severe traumatic injuries, including gunshot wounds, often witnessing rapid efficacy in controlling bleeding.
Landolina mentioned, “If it’s in an arm or leg, you can put this product on, and it enables you to control bleeding almost instantly,” emphasizing its frequent application in urgent situations.
While the results have been promising and the potential for transforming emergency care is evident, some major emergency services, like the FDNY and NYPD, have yet to incorporate the product. However, Landolina remains optimistic about its future adoption.
Anticipating Nationwide Availability
Cresilon is currently increasing production to support a national rollout of TraumaGel. Each syringe is meticulously produced in the cleanroom environment of Brooklyn’s Industry City, affirming its local roots and innovative credentials. Despite its impending availability, TraumaGel will not yet be accessible for public purchase, meaning families will need to wait for potential at-home distribution.
For now, Cresilon is devoted to advancing medical interventions: “Science that’s made here in Brooklyn is what drives me. It’s what drives most of the teammates here at Cresilon, because we know that we’re able, in what’s very likely, someone’s worst day of their lives, we’re able to make a little difference and help them move forward, and ideally, help save their lives…. because we know, on someone’s worst day, we might help them live through it.”
