Agents and devices for providing blood clotting functions to wounds

A hemostatic device, comprising:

• a pellet of unwoven oxidized cellulose fiber implantable into a wound, said oxidized cellulose fiber having a carboxylation content increased by the action of nitrogen dioxide on virgin cellulose fiber;
• and
• wherein upon implanting said pellet into said wound, said oxidized cellulose fiber causes blood emanating from said wound to clot.

A method of arresting a flow of blood emanating from a wound, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing unwoven oxidized cellulose fiber, said oxidized cellulose fiber having a carboxylation content increased relative to cellulose fiber that has not been oxidized, said increased carboxylation content being increased by the action of nitrogen dioxide on virgin cellulose fiber;
• applying said unwoven oxidized cellulose fiber to said wound, thereby causing hemostasis to result.

A bandage applicable to a bleeding wound, said bandage comprising:

• a substrate;
• a pad of unwoven oxidized cellulose fibers mounted on said substrate, said oxidized cellulose fiber having a carboxylation content increased relative to cellulose fiber that has not been oxidized, said increased carboxylation content being increased by the action of nitrogen dioxide on virgin cellulose fiber;
• wherein applying said pad to blood emanating from said wound causes said blood to clot and wherein said composition provides a pharmacological effect to said wound.