Researchers from MIT and Hong Kong University have discovered a peptide-containing solution that can be used to stop bleeding immediately i.e., less than 15 seconds. Although the exact mechanism of action is still unknown, they believe that the the solution do not induce blood clotting as most homeostatic drugs do, but stops bleeding as protein fragments self-assemble into a nanoscale protective barrier gel that seals the wound.

In animal trials, the peptide solution seems to be effective in open wounds on differnt types of tissues: brain, liver, skin, spinal cord and intestine. If such efficacy can be demonstrated in humans, this could be of great potential for use in surgery, particularly in unconventional environments and situations where rapid homeostasis is vital.

The study describing this research is published in the October Issue of Nanomedicine. For an overview, read the full feature report from MIT.

[Photo: A monitor showing a transected liver after it has been treated with a liquid solution containing peptides. The peptides self-assemble into a gel that essentially seals over the wound. Edited from a photo by Donna Coveney]