Posted on 10/12/2006 10:27:58 AM PDT by Ben Mugged
A team of researchers at MIT and the University of Hong Kong have developed a biodegradable liquid that can quickly stop bleeding.
Composed of peptides, the liquid self-assembles into a protective nanofiber gel when applied to a wound. Rutledge Ellis-Behnke, research scientist in the department of brain and cognitive sciences at MIT and Kwok-Fai So, chair of the department of anatomy at the University of Hong Kong, discovered the liquid's ability to stop bleeding while experimenting with it as a matrix for regrowing brain cells in hamsters.
The researchers then conducted a series of experiments on various mammals, including rodents and pigs, applying the clear liquid agent to the brain, skin, liver, spinal cord, and femoral artery to test its ability to halt bleeding and seal wounds.
"It worked every single time," said Ellis-Behnke. They found that it stopped the bleeding in less than 15 seconds, and even worked on animals given blood-thinning medications.
The wound must still be stitched up after the procedure; but unlike other agents designed to stop bleeding, it does not have to be removed from the wound site.
The liquid's only byproduct is amino acids: tissue building blocks that can be used to actually repair the site of the injury, according to the researchers. It is also nontoxic, causes no immune response in the patient, and can be used in a wet environment, according to Ellis-Behnke. A paper outlining the findings is available online and will be published in the December issue of Nanomedicine.
Ellis-Behnke believes that first responders, say, on a battlefield or at a traffic accident, will save more lives with the nanosolution. Yet the most significant application may be in surgery, he says, especially on the liver and brain.
In fact, as much as half of the time during any operation is spent "doing some sort of bleeding control," says Ellis-Behnke. Consequently, such a liquid could "fundamentally change the pace of the operation."
This truly is a miracle! It would make EMT's and battlefield medics day go so much better!........as well as the patients!......
If this stuff can actually patch (even temporarily) a human femoral artery...
it's fantastic stuff.
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I love our scientists.
Someone send a gallon over to Harry Reid's campaign HQ ASAP!
Holy cow! Get this stuff through testing and out to practical application quickly! Our boys need some of this in their med kits! Patches a femoral artery!
Cool!
Very cool.
This sounds like something that should also be in first aid kits.
.. when applied to humans the bleeding stops but the urge to buy a treadmill and run heartily is tremendous!
These guys get a deserved Nobel for medicine if true.
this sounds so cool.
No kidding. Usually if the femoral's cut, you're done for. Gotta love nano tech.
"experimenting with it as a matrix "
Uh oh!
Plaster: the original nano-matrix...
Nano-cool.
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