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."
Very nice. I agree. Being on blood thinners myself, the fact that this item still works on patients that take them, is also a good plus.
I'll have to try the cayenne trick. Doesn't it burn like the bejabbers?
Meanwhile, hats off to MIT for a fantastic breakthrough.
Some of us might even start shaving again.
"These guys get a deserved Nobel for medicine if true."
look who else is being consiered, instead....
don't barf...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1718384/posts
OK, I'm impressed. BTT.
Ping
There are many types of amino acids, some not used in life and are toxic. Apparently these are safe, though.
Actually the science awards don't suffer from the same problems of "flavour of the month" and PC as the Peace and Literature awards which have become pretty much worthless.
To be a science Nobel Laureate is still huge, and most such awards seem to be hugely deserved.
Haven't tried it myself either, but from what I've read, it doesn't burn or sting and the pepper has antibacterial properties, so the pepper does not have to be cleaned out of the wound. Do a google search on "cayenne pepper stops bleeding" and you'll find quite a few articles. Take some of the claims with a grain of salt but they all seem to agree on the ability of pepper to stop bleeding.
Thanks for all of the pings, even if I don't explicitly acknowledge many of them. I can't type more than hunt & peck.
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