Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have developed what they believe to be a “breakthrough coating” that could make medical devices safer.
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 is designed for tubing in a variety of medical devices and mimics the “natural behavior of blood vessels.”
Liver and kidney transplants are now allowed in people living with HIV
This will make blood-contact devices such as catheters, stents, blood oxygenators, and dialysis machines safer to use, the release states.
Researchers have discovered a difference between bare and coated catheters. (Kizakkedatu Research Group)
This coating may be especially helpful when blood clots are a bigger concern.
Blood thinners are typically prescribed in high doses to prevent blood clots in machine users, but this can increase the risk of dangerous bleeding, the university said.
“This is a huge challenge because almost all synthetic materials activate blood upon contact.”
“By designing coatings that mimic the body’s natural approach to preventing blood clots, we could dramatically reduce the need for dangerous blood thinners before and after patients use these devices. We have created a solution,” the study authors wrote in an email.
Dr. Jayachandran Kizackedatu, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of British Columbia, told Fox News Digital that the discovery could be “a transformative step in the development of safer medical devices.” .
Leukemia patient receives first-ever bone marrow transplant from deceased organ donor
The study, published in the journal Nature Materials, found that mimicking the body’s own mechanisms, rather than repelling blood components, is “the key to designing truly biocompatible devices.” confirmed, said Kizakkedatu.
Researchers say the new coating is designed to mimic the function of blood vessels, acting as a “soft barrier” that attracts important blood proteins and prevents them from clotting. (St. Petersburg)
Kizhakkedathu said there has been a “steady increase” in the use of devices that come into contact with blood over the past few decades, but that increase has been slowed by the risk of blood clots, which can “adversely impact patient health.” He pointed out that it is restricted.
Click here to sign up for our health newsletter
“This is a huge challenge because almost all synthetic materials activate blood upon contact,” he continued.
A long-term goal is to develop materials that can “essentially avoid coagulation activation,” Kizhakkedathu said.
For more health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
“There is no effective way to prevent device thrombosis and inflammation, and despite extensive efforts, little progress has been made for decades,” he continued.
“There are increasing hopes for the development of highly improved medical devices that eliminate concerns about thrombosis,” the researchers said. (St. Petersburg)
“However, with our chemical design, we were able to develop a non-toxic polycationic molecule and a surface that prevents blood clotting.”
Kizhakkedathu said this development is still in its early stages and requires further research in more difficult cases and other animal models.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“We hope this approach will inspire and benefit other scientists in this field,” he told FOX News Digital.
“For the general public, there is growing hope for the development of highly improved medical devices that eliminate the fear of blood clots.”
