Drag-Reducing Polymers Improve Cerebrovascular Function in a Swine TBI and Hemorrhagic Shock Model

Monday, March 23, 2026

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Central Time

Location: Connections Central Theater 1

DB

Denis E. Bragin, Ph.D., FAHA

Lovelace Biomedical

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.
OB

Olga A. Bragina, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, New Mexico

Disclosure information not submitted.
FK

Fazle Kibria, Ph.D.

PostDoc
Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, New Mexico

Disclosure information not submitted.
EC

Eduardo Colombari, Ph.D.

Professor
Sao Paulo University

Disclosure information not submitted.
RK

Rachel Kinsler, MS

Scientist
U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory

Disclosure information not submitted.
EN

Edwin M. Nemoto, Ph.D., FAHA

Professor
University of New Mexico School of Medicine, New Mexico

Disclosure information not submitted.
AT

Alex O. Trofimov, MD, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Privolzhsky Research Medical University

Disclosure information not submitted.
AM

Andrew Mayer, Ph.D.

Professor
MRN

Disclosure information not submitted.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) with hemorrhagic shock (HS) is a major cause of death. Standard resuscitation often fails to restore cerebral blood flow (CBF), worsening intracranial pressure (ICP) and autoregulation. Drag-reducing polymers (DRPs) improved CBF and lowered ICP in rat TBI+HS; efficacy in a gyrencephalic brain was unknown. We tested DRPs in a swine polytrauma model.

Methods: Yucatan minipigs received moderate acceleration–deceleration TBI plus 40% controlled hemorrhage. During the prehospital phase, animals were randomized to vehicle or DRP (7–10 ppm) followed by whole-blood transfusion. ICP, mean arterial pressure, CBF (Doppler), and cerebral tissue oxygenation (NIRS) were recorded over 4 h. At 48 h, MRI (hematoma, edema, DTI), serum GFAP and UCH-L1, and histopathology were obtained.

Results: Versus vehicle, DRPs increased CBF (+32%) and cerebral perfusion pressure (+18%), improved brain compliance, and strengthened autoregulation (all p< 0.05). MRI showed smaller hematomas (−25%) and reduced axonal injury (DTI fractional anisotropy +15%). GFAP and UCH-L1 were ~30% lower with DRPs (p < 0.05), aligning with histologic neuroprotection.

Conclusions: In swine TBI+HS, DRP-augmented resuscitation stabilized cerebral hemodynamics and reduced early injury, supporting DRPs as a field-ready adjunct to limit secondary brain damage.