Site icon Wonderful Engineering

Scientists Have Made A Wound-Sealing Glue From Snake Venom

Venom is probably one of the things that people are terrified of the most. There are multiple sorts of venom and if they come in contact with human skin or get into the system, they have the potential to poison the entire body or lead to permanent damages to different organs. The sources of these venoms are mostly insects and reptiles. Snakes are most notorious in this regard and some species have venom so poisonous and intense that even a droplet can kill a person or paralyze for life.

However, scientists and researchers have found a way to utilize venoms extracted from insects for making medicines or treating certain medical conditions in humans. For example, they have developed the bee venom into a drug for cancer treatment and it has proved to be successful. Also, venom from platypus is being successfully used in treating diabetes and handling the symptoms.

Recently, researchers have made a super glue to stop the bleeding immediately from any body part. There are other alternatives already existing, but those adhesives are toxic when they dissolve inside the body. A bioadhesive of this nature is bound to not be toxic.

The super glue is created from the venom of the common lancehead snake know as pit piper. It is abundantly found in South America. Researchers have extracted the component, reptilase, from its body that promotes blood clotting. This enzyme is added with methacrylate gelatin and formed into a strong adhesive. It will be as simple as pouring the liquid over a wound or an injury and flashing a torchlight or a laser on the glue for a while.

The research was carried out in the Western University by a team and is reported to seal the wound in 45 seconds which is half the time from the already existing options for wound healing. It can be life-saving for people who are at a stage where even a few seconds of bleeding are crucial. Details of this glue are published in Science Advances.

Exit mobile version