Coagulation is a biological process: this is how we call the transformation of blood, when it passes from the liquid state to the solid state, in particular thanks to the action of platelets and fibrin fibers naturally present in the blood.
Coagulant drugs can be helpful when the patient has certain bleeding disorders, such ashaemophilia or von Willebrand disease. In these people, hemorrhages can last a very long time (even be fatal) and bleeding can even appear spontaneously, especially in the joints.
Researchers from Rice University (United States) have just discovered a new molecule that promotes blood clotting: it is batroxobin, a chemical component mainly present in South America and which is mainly found … in the venom of some snakes.
To verify their discovery, the scientists made a mixture from batroxobin and hydrogel, to obtain a gel texture easy to spread. They then applied this mixture to a wound: the product instantly solidified and the bleeding was stopped in 6 seconds, top time. Other laboratory tests have also been carried out on people subjected to anti-coagulant treatments (these are generally prescribed after a infarction, a pulmonary embolism or an act of orthopedic surgery – 1 French in 100 is concerned) and the results were completely positive.
Of course, the release of batroxobin dressings is not for now. But it’s still a great step forward.
