This ‘injectable bandage’ can heal wounds in no time

NewsBharati    14-Apr-2018
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Washington, April 14: Have you wounded yourself? Need a quick recovery technique? Don’t worry scientists have invented an injectable 'bandage' made out of a common food ingredient and nanoparticles. And not only does this material staunch bleeding stunningly fast, it also helps wounds heal more quickly. 

When a person is wounded, they don't necessarily just bleed on the outside gunshots and other injuries often cause internal bleeding as well, which needs to be dealt with as quickly as possible.

In recent years, scientists have been coming up with new kinds of materials that can quickly plug a wound - such as this incredible sponge-filled syringe - but getting that same effect deeper in the body has remained a challenge.

Now a team of biomedical engineers at Texas A&M University has invented a totally new 'injectable bandage'. It's comprised of a seaweed-derived gelling agent and two-dimensional clay nanoparticles.

Together, these unlikely ingredients form what's known as a hydrogel a highly absorbent, jelly-like substance with a super-high water content that can work remarkably well as wound dressing.

In their previous work with gelatin, the researchers discovered that hydrogels can be boosted with the use of nano silicates - tiny clay-based particles that improve the structure of the gel by forming a frame effectively turning it into an 'injectable bandage'.

When the team tested their bandage on animal and human tissue cells in the lab, they watched the nanoparticle-infused hydrogel kick off blood clotting in less than three minutes.

On top of that, the team also noticed significantly improved tissue regeneration and wound healing in their treated lab samples. And, best of all, the nanoparticles used to make this hydrogel could also deliver medication to the wound site, slowly releasing it into the body as needed.

So far, the team's hydrogel hasn't been tested in human wounds, but its highly promising performance means it could only be a matter of time until doctors can add this injectable bandage to their arsenal.