# A New Generation of Eco-Designed Embolic Agents: Towards Sustainable and Personalized Interventional Radiology

## TL;DR

This study introduces a new eco-friendly embolic agent that effectively reduces blood loss and stabilizes blood pressure in a pig model of uncontrolled hemorrhage.

## Contribution

The paper presents a novel eco-designed agar-based embolization agent with promising hemostatic performance in an acute hemorrhage model.

## Key findings

- ABEA-treated pigs had significantly lower blood loss compared to the control group after 120 minutes.
- Mean arterial pressure in treated pigs remained above critical levels, unlike the control group.
- The results support the technical feasibility and short-term effectiveness of ABEA in acute hemorrhage.

## Abstract

Background: Embolization is a key therapeutic option in interventional radiology for the management of acute arterial bleeding and solid organ injuries. While various embolic agents exist, there is a persistent clinical need for materials that are not only highly effective but also biocompatible, easy to deliver, and cost-effective. We aim to evaluate a new eco-friendly dry foam agar-based embolization agent (ABEA) in an uncontrolled solid organ hemorrhage model. Material and Methods: Ten pigs underwent a controlled splenic injury. After a 5 min free-bleeding period, five pigs were treated with splenic artery ABEA embolization, while the remaining five received no treatment and served as the control group. Follow-up angiography was performed immediately after embolization and at 5 and 15 min in the treated pigs. Mean arterial pressures and average blood loss volumes were evaluated for 120 min. Results: The control group showed continuous blood loss, leading to a significantly higher total blood loss than the ABEA-treated group (1451 mL vs. 611 mL at 120 min, p < 0.05). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) remained below the hemorrhagic shock threshold throughout the procedure in the control group, validating the model of uncontrolled hemorrhage. In addition, a significant stabilization of MAP was observed in treated pigs, remaining above the critical level of hemorrhagic shock and differed significantly from control group values. Conclusions: Embolization with ABEA maintained MAP above critical levels and significantly reduced blood loss volume in a hemorrhagic model. These results support the technical feasibility and short-term hemostatic performance of ABEA in an acute setting. While preliminary, this proof-of-concept has provided the basis for a validated clinical study currently underway to evaluate its effectiveness and safety in human patients.