Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have developed what is being considered “a groundbreaking coating” that can make Medical devices more secure.
For millions of patients, this could mean reducing the risk of thrombosis (or blood clot formation) and dangerous bleeding, according to a UBC press release.
The new material, designed for tubing in various medical devices, mimics the “natural behavior of blood vessels.”
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This allows its safe use. Blood contact devicesSuch as catheters, stents, blood oxygenation machines and dialysis machines, the release said.
Coating can be especially helpful in cases where blood clotting is a major concern.
Blood thinners Higher doses are usually prescribed to prevent clotting in machine users, but this can increase the risk of dangerous bleeding, according to the university.
“Since almost all synthetic materials stimulate blood on contact, this is a huge challenge.”
“By developing a coating that mimics the body’s natural way to prevent clotting, we have developed a solution that patients can use before using these devices,” the study’s author wrote in an email. And can dramatically reduce the need for dangerous blood thinners later.”
Dr. Jayachandran Kizhakidathu, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of British Columbia, shared with Fox News Digital that the discovery “could be a game-changing step in the development of Safe medical devices”
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The research – which was published in the journal Nature Materials – confirmed that mimicking the body’s own mechanisms, rather than repurposing blood components, “is really the key to biocompatible device design”.
According to the researchers, the new coating is designed to mimic the function of blood vessels, and acts as a “soft barrier” that attracts proteins key to preventing blood clotting. (iStock)
Kizhakkedathu noted that there has been a “steady increase” in the use of blood-contacting devices over the past few decades, but noted that this has been limited by the risk of blood clots, which are “for blood Can be harmful. Patient health”
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“Since almost all synthetic materials stimulate blood on contact, this is a huge challenge,” he said.
According to Kizhakkedathu, developing materials that “can naturally survive coagulation activation” has been a long-term goal.
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“There are no effective methods to prevent thrombosis and inflammation in devices, and despite significant efforts over decades, little progress has been made,” he said.
“Hope is raised to create highly improved medical devices where thrombosis is not a concern,” said one researcher. (iStock)
“However, our chemistry design allowed us to create a non-toxic polycationic molecule and develop a surface that inhibits blood clotting.”
Kizhakkedathu mentioned that this development is still in its early stages and requirements. Further research In more difficult cases and in other animal models.
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“We hope this approach will inspire and benefit other scientists in the field,” he told Fox News Digital.
“For the general public, the prospect of creating highly improved medical devices where there is no risk of thrombosis has been raised.”