Created hydrogel that can stop the arterial bleeding

A team of scientists from several Chinese institutions developed a hydrogel that can stop bleeding from a punctured artery, one of the strongest and most dangerous to humans. In an article published in Nature Communications, the scientists describe how the hydrogel was made and how well it worked in experimental animals. Uncontrolled bleeding - very serious situation as during surgical procedures, and the resulting injury.

The hydrogel can help with heavy bleeding

In most cases it is the result of damage to major artery or organ such as the liver. In all cases, you need to take decisions immediately, otherwise the victim would die. Now, treatment of wounds involves clamping the artery, followed by sutures for wound closure. In the past, scientists have tried to create a kind of glue to "seal the" wound, but so far none of them have not worked as intended - or glue consisted of toxic materials, or was not strong enough to withstand the high pressure of the fluid in the bloodstream. And now, it seems, scientists were able to create a hydrogel solves both problems.

The new hydrogel composed of water, gelatin and a mixture of proteins and other chemicals. It meant that its structure will be as close as possible human connective tissues. When ultraviolet light hits the gel that hardens and thickens sticking to the wound and preventing blood leakage. And all this for 20-30 seconds. Scientists note that the hydrogel can withstand a pressure of 290 mm Hg. Art. - much higher than normal.

The researchers also report that tested a hydrogel punctures carotid artery guinea pigs, and put the gel on the wound. The hydrogel is not only close the wound (and saved the life of a pig), but also contributed to the healing of wounds. In addition, the hydrogel started to decompose harmless to the body. The scientists then stopped the bleeding from the femoral artery and a rabbit out of his liver. Require additional work on the study gel safety before proceeding to human trials, but preliminary results can already be considered a success.

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