Researchers of the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston have decelopped a "superglue" that can possibly be used during surgeon to stop the bleeding of the heart.
The new glue perhaps finally replaces the staples and stitches in the heart, intestines and blood vesels.
Research tells us that the glue repairs a damaged heart of a pig within seconds and researchers hope that within two years it's avaiable for the people. They wrote that in the magazine Science Translational Medicine.
Snails form the basis for this medicical glue. The researchers hope that the glue can hold the two sides of the wound together whilst the recovery and healing takes place, just like skin glue. However, skin glue isn't strong enough for the heart or the blood vessels, a lot of pressure is put on those organs.
"We have developed a surgeon glue that can be used at intensive operations and on moving tissue," explains researcher Jeffrey Karp.
The glue is hydro- and bloodphobic (water and blood can't bind or interact) and becomes solid under the influence of UV light. Further research must point out if the glue indeed is safe to be used on humans. Beside that, it's important to estimate how long the glue can hold its grip.
The new glue perhaps finally replaces the staples and stitches in the heart, intestines and blood vesels.
Research tells us that the glue repairs a damaged heart of a pig within seconds and researchers hope that within two years it's avaiable for the people. They wrote that in the magazine Science Translational Medicine.
Snails form the basis for this medicical glue. The researchers hope that the glue can hold the two sides of the wound together whilst the recovery and healing takes place, just like skin glue. However, skin glue isn't strong enough for the heart or the blood vessels, a lot of pressure is put on those organs.
"We have developed a surgeon glue that can be used at intensive operations and on moving tissue," explains researcher Jeffrey Karp.
The glue is hydro- and bloodphobic (water and blood can't bind or interact) and becomes solid under the influence of UV light. Further research must point out if the glue indeed is safe to be used on humans. Beside that, it's important to estimate how long the glue can hold its grip.
