Nanoparticle Infused Gauze Quickly Stanches Wounds

jackieduvall writes "Medical gauze has received its first upgrade since World War I. Chemists have infused it with nanoparticles derived from kaolin clay, which somehow give it an amazing ability to stop severe bleeding. It was developed when the Navy approached a team of inorganic chemists at the University of California Santa Barbara to solve a problem with QuikClot, a zeolite-based hemostatic agent that became way too hot and caused burns when it came in contact with water or blood. While performing blood clotting tests, they realized that kaolin clay, which has been used as a control for clotting experiments since the 1950s, could also be used as a first aid product." There is a video demonstration alongside the article. It shows the gauze halting the bleeding from a pig's aorta. The blood isn't excessive, but if you're bothered by that sort of thing, you may want to skip the video.

Comments

Re:Humph... This happens a lot

[SoyChemist]

Yeah, there are also surgical gels made from a polymer which is structurally similar to a protein from mussels.

Obligatory 911 reference

[kdubb1]

"In 2002, following the September 11 attacks, the military was looking at new technologies to stop bleeding," Huey says.
As if the military had no other reason to look into this.

Re:OT : What's wrong with blood?

[jheath314]

I suppose it has something to do with our natural aversion as a species to injury and death. Most apes aren't really predators by nature (many are omnivorous, but mostly vegetarian), so usually any blood they happen to see would be their own.

Re:I have a better idea to stop the bleeding!

[msimm]

The U.S. gives more money to countries in need than anyone other country in the world

If you're going to rattle off broad claims like this you should at least cite them.

That would be informative, otherwise you're essentially passing opinion (which I don't care about and leaves me less rather then more informed).

Re:I have a better idea to stop the bleeding!

[TapeCutter]

I'm an Aussie, I generally agree with your post and think Americans (both in government and in private) are generous when disaster strikes.

The ships you speak of helped out in Indonesia, it took less than a week since, they were in the area and arrived before the Aussies could get there (and we live next door!!). The US had a shipload of choppers and spent weeks carting bottled water, desal plants, portable hostpitals, etc, etc. On one isolated island the choppers were attacked by some stone age natives with bows and arrows (who had survived by following their ancestors advice and going to high ground when the earth rumbled), but generally the assistance was greatly appreciated.

One point in your post bugs me, you don't need to denigrate the efforts of others (UN) to make the US look good. The US is great for initial releif and moving a lot of bulk in a hurry. The UN is great for long term assistance and opening the political doors that enable the US Navy to do it's stuff. In other words the US & UN work best together not in competition.