Biomedical engineers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University developed an injectable hemostatic microgel designed for neonatal-specific clotting, reporting at least a 50% reduction in bleeding in an animal model. The approach, described as B-knob-triggered microgels (BK-TriGs), is published in Science Advances. Lead author Ashley Brown, PhD, co-corresponding author on the study, said current neonatal surgeries often rely on adult blood products, which can create safety risks due to differences in adult versus infant hemostasis. The researchers said BK-TriGs aim to reduce bleeding and potentially lower reliance on transfusions. For pediatric and surgical care stakeholders, the preclinical efficacy supports a pathway toward next-generation, more tailored hemostatic interventions where bleeding and thrombosis risks are both elevated in neonates.