Biomedical engineers at UNC-Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University reported preclinical results for an injectable hemostatic microgel designed for neonatal bleeding risk. Using an animal model, the researchers said the B-knob-triggered microgels (BK-TriGs) reduced bleeding by at least 50%. The work, led by Ashley Brown, PhD, and published in Science Advances, targets a key clinical gap: infants’ clotting biology differs from adults, and adult blood transfusions can create safety problems including thrombosis risk. The microgels are designed to trigger clotting processes aligned with neonatal-specific mechanisms. The study frames BK-TriGs as a tailored alternative to adult transfusions during surgery, with translation dependent on safety, dosing, and thrombosis monitoring across neonatal settings.