Heals and is easily removed
Researchers from the Swiss Higher Technical School in Zurich (ETH Zurich) and the National University of Singapore have developed a new type of bandage that helps blood clot and does not stick to the wound.It is curious that initially the researchers did not plan this at all, they developed and tested various superhydrophobic materials that repel liquids such as water and blood. The goal was to create coatings for devices that come into contact with blood, for example, devices for artificial circulation or artificial heart.
One of the tested materials demonstrated some unexpected properties: it not only repelled blood, but also enhanced the clotting process. This made it unsuitable for use as a coating for devices in contact with blood, but researchers quickly realized that it was ideal as a dressing.
Blood repulsion and rapid formation of blood clots are two different properties that are useful for bandages: hemostatic bandages do not soak in blood and do not stick to the wound, so they can be easily removed later than conventional bandages, avoiding secondary bleeding. To date, there are no materials that simultaneously repel blood and promote blood clotting; scientists have managed to combine both of these properties in one material for the first time.
Antibacterial effect
The researchers took ordinary cotton gauze and covered it with a new material – a mixture of silicone and carbon nanofibers. They were able to show in laboratory tests that the blood in contact with the gauze shell was covered with clots in just a few minutes. Why the new material causes blood clotting is still unclear and requires further research, but the group suspects that it is due to interaction with carbon nanofibers.
On the left is an ordinary cotton gauze that absorbs blood. On the right is gauze coated with carbon nanofibers and silicone. Below: cotton fibers of both bandages under an electron microscope. Source: article in NatureCommunications.
The researchers were also able to show that the coated gauze has an antibacterial effect, since bacteria do not adhere well to its surface. Tests on rats have demonstrated the effectiveness of the new dressing.
Reducing the risk of infection
Thanks to the new superhydrophobic material, it is possible to avoid reopening the wound when changing the dressing – a serious problem due to the risk of infection, including a dangerous nosocomial infection.
The potential applications are huge: from emergency medicine and surgery to prevent large blood loss to patches for use at home and on the road.
Employees of ETH Zurich and the National University of Singapore have applied for a patent for a new material. The researchers plan to refine and optimize the material before it can be used on humans. It is necessary to conduct additional tests on larger animals to prove its effectiveness and harmlessness.
Article by Z. Li etal. Superhydrophobic hemostatic nanofiber composites for fast clotting and minimal adhesion is published in the journal NatureCommunications.
Aminatadzhieva, portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of ETH Zurich: Bandage material helps stop bleeding without adhering to the wound.