Injectable Polymer Prevents Uncontrolled Bleeding

Mar-13-15 The new PolySTAT polymer prevents uncontrolled bleeding by strengthening blood clots, and could help save lives on the battlefield.

Developed by researchers at the University of Washington, the injectable polymer was inspired by factor XIII, a protein found in the body that strengthens blood clots with a latticework of fibrin strands. The PolySTAT polymer performs in the same way, and can even help strengthen clots when the body's fibrin levels are critically low.

In tests on rats, 100 percent of the rats injected with PolySTAT survived a typically lethal injury to the femoral artery, compared to 20 percent of rats who did not receive the injection.

Image: A 3D rendering of a blood clot forming, with PolySTAT (in blue) binding strands of fibrin together.

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[GIZMAG.COM]
[WASHINGTON.EDU]

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