Does zinc make a difference to haemostatic performance?
Alginates act as calcium ion (Ca) donors as they contain mannuronic (M) or guluronic (G) groups with a high Ca content. A study compared the effects of calcium and zinc containing alginates and non-alginate dressings on blood coagulation and platelet activation to determine which was the best haemostat. The study showed that alginate materials activated coagulation more than non-alginate materials. The extent of coagulation activation was affected differently by the alginate M or G group composition. It was demonstrated that alginates containing zinc ions had the greatest potentiating effect on prothrombotic coagulation and platelet activation [1]. Reference 1: Segal HC, Hunt BJ, Gilding K., The effects of alginate and non-alginate wound dressings on blood coagulation and platelet activation.
