A new study, published in Science Translational Medicine, showcases a biomedical engineering advancement that could revolutionize trauma care and surgical procedures. A team of scientific researchers has created platelet-like particles that can integrate into the body’s clotting process to prevent hemorrhaging. Chapman University’s Fowler School of Engineering Founding Dean and Professor, Andrew Lyon, is part of this collaborative, multi-university scientific effort.A research team is working on creating platelet-like particles that can be used to help the body clot and stop hemorrhaging. Sanika Pandit, a former student at Chapman University, is one of the 15 authors involved in this research.
This development addresses a long-standing problem in surgical and trauma care and has the potential to be used in patient treatment. Patients who experience acute trauma often need platelet transfusions to control bleeding, but because of storage limitations, these transfusions are not always available in prehospital settings. Synthetic platelet-like particles (PLPs) could provide an alternative solution for quickly addressing uncontrolled bleeding.
<p rnrnThe team has developed particles that resemble platelets and have the ability to move through the bloodstream and then target damaged tissue, where they help with blood clotting and support healing. This approach meets a need in trauma care and surgery that has not been addressed before. ”This work is a significant moment in biomedical engineering, demonstrating the practical potential of Platelet-Like Particles,” Lyon commented. “This impressive teamwork has resulted in a solution that not only meets important clinical needs but also indicates a change in treatment approaches.” ThThe study’s thorough approach included extensive testing in larger animal models of traumatic injury, demonstrating that the treatment is very well tolerated in a variety of models.
Ashley Brown, the corresponding author of the study and an associate professor in the joint biomedical engineering program at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, stated, “In the mouse and pig models, the healing rates were similar in animals that received platelet transfusions and synthetic platelet transfusions, and both groups showed better outcomes than animals that did not receive either transfusion.”One of the most important discoveries of the study is that these particles can be excreted through the kidneys, which is a significant breakthrough in the way injectable, artificial biomaterials are eliminated. The study has shown an impressive safety record, making it a safe and efficient option for trauma and surgical procedures. This advancement has the potential to improve medical treatments and outcomes for patients undergoing these types of procedures.
Lyon stated, “Based on the successful results of our research and the effectiveness of the artificial platelets, the team is moving forward with the goal of eventually implementing this technology in clinical practice.”
