MIT and Hong Kong University researchers have shown that some
simple biodegradable liquids can stop bleeding in wounded
rodents within seconds, a development that could significantly
impact medicine. When the liquid, composed of protein fragments
called peptides, is applied to open wounds, the peptides self-
assemble into a nanoscale protective barrier gel that seals the
wound and halts bleeding. Once the injury heals, the nontoxic
gel is broken down into molecules that cells can use as building
blocks for tissue repair. "We have found a way to stop bleeding,
in less than 15 seconds, that could revolutionize bleeding
control," said Rutledge Ellis-Behnke, research scientist in the
MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. This study,
which will appear in the online edition of the journal
Nanomedicine on Oct. 10, marks the first time that
nanotechnology has been used to achieve complete hemostasis, the
process of halting bleeding from a damaged blood vessel. Doctors
currently have few effective methods to