Each year, over half a million people die due to bleeding out. For the longest time, researchers have looked for methods to prevent people from dying due to blood loss. There are several research groups focused towards prolonging life due to loss of blood, or so to speak, letting the victim last longer on lower blood levels till blood can be transfused. Why not try and prevent the bleeding first? It sounds simple but the fastest clotting agent that was researched helped stop blood loss under 8 minutes, but 8 minutes isn’t sufficient at times. This was until recently, a team led by NYU graduate Joe Landolina have researched and have found an effective method of producing a naturally occurring polymer that can clot cuts and wounds under 15 seconds. The name given to this polymer gel is Veti-gel.
Landolina explains that “immediately after application, Veti-gel stimulates the clotting process by physically holding pressure in the damaged blood vessel. The gel then rapidly activates the accumulation of platelets, which bind to the site of the injury to create a platelet mesh. Veti-gel completes hemostasis by accelerating the binding of the clotting protein, fibrin, to the platelet mesh, resulting in blood coagulation and a stable clot”
People have thought of liquid band aids before however Veti-Gel is the first to be able to close large wounds almost instantly. Click here to view a gif showing Veti-Gel in action. (Disclaimer: The gif shows a simulation of a wound)
So when is the Veti-Gel coming to market for first-aid? Not anytime soon; the FDA approval process is long and the gel has to pass a series of tests before being approved and mass produced and supplied to the general public. Meanwhile, the Veti-gel is being supplied/sold to Veterinary clinics for testing on animals. During the process the gel will have to prove itself safe for animals, only then will it get approved for clinical trials. The good news is that during this time the team behind Veti gel hops to find better or more efficient delivery/application methods through testing in veterinary clinics.
If Veti-Gel becomes a reality and is relatively cheap when it hits the market, then we are looking at the future of first aid. The number of deaths due to blood loss could be reduced as well. Below is a short video explaining more about Veti-Gel:
Work Cited:
Luntz, Stephen. “Superfast Clotting Agent Could Save Many Lives.” IFLScience. N.p., 24 Nov. 2014. Web. 06 Oct. 2015. <http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/superfast-clotting-agent-could-save-many-lives>.
Rowe, Aaron. “Nov 2015.” Discover Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2015. <http://discovermagazine.com/2010/dec/01-beating-blood-loss>.
Wellman, Victoria. “Student Invents Blood-clotting Gel.” Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 18 Mar. 2013. Web. 06 Oct. 2015. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295217/NYU-super-student-invents-instant-blood-clotting-gel.html>.