The gel is based on a type of material known as methacryloyl-substituted tropoelastin (or MeTro for short), which is a hybrid elastic protein that can be applied to external and internal wounds to encourage healing and seal them up completely. Most amazingly, while it can rapidly seal up wounds, it still allows the skin or organ it's been applied to to naturally expand or relax, thereby reducing the risk of further complications.
According to Nasim Annabi, one of the researchers from Boston's Northeastern University, "the beauty of the MeTro formulation is that, as soon as it comes in contact with tissue surfaces, it solidifies into a gel-like phase without running away."
Once it has been applied, the sealant is then placed under UV light to keep it in place. Annabi explains that they "then further stabilize it by curing it on-site with a short light-mediated crosslinking treatment. This allows the sealant to be very accurately placed and to tightly bond and interlock with structures on the tissue surface."
Compared to wounds treated with staples or stitches, ones treated with MeTro can take less than half the time to fully heal, and if further surgery is required, the researchers claim that MeTro is also able to simplify such a procedure. Due to a degrading enzyme found within the glue, it can be modified to last for varying amounts of time (a certain amount of hours or even months), depending on the kind of injury that has been sustained.
In emergencies where time is of the essence, MeTro could make a tremendous difference in the way in which wounds or lung punctures are dealt with. In fact, they say that it works in a very similar way to how silicone sealants for bathroom or kitchen tiles work.
Anthony Weiss, one of the researchers from the University of Sydney says that "when you watch MeTro, you can see it act like a liquid, filling the gaps and conforming to the shape of the wound. The potential applications are powerful – from treating serious internal wounds at emergency sites such as following car accidents and in war zones, as well as improving hospital surgeries."
The team behind the gel's creation say that it's very simple to apply, can be stored very easily, and also works closely with the human body's natural tissue when healing wounds. In addition to this, it eventually degrades without leaving any traces of toxic chemicals inside the body.
So far, this gel has never been used on any humans, but it has been very successful when applied to pig lungs, as well as to rodent lungs and arteries. If trials keep going smoothly, then the gel may soon end up as a commercial product, with a lot of potential to become an essential part of every first aid kit.
"We have shown MeTro works in a range of different settings and solves problems other available sealants can't," says Weiss. "We're now ready to transfer our research into testing on people. I hope MeTro will soon be used in the clinic, saving human lives."
Sources: sciencealert, sciencemag, scimex
Images: 1, 2, 3
5 World-Changing Medical Advances From the Past Decade
Perhaps the most important technological advancements are those related to healthcare. Here are 5 such incredible medical breakthroughs from the past decade.
Love Using Herbs & Spices? Then This Quiz Is For You!
How well do you know the healing properties of herbs and spices? Take this test and find out for yourself!
Physical Therapists Debunk Posture and Back Pain Myths
Is slouching really bad for you? Is there one perfect posture? Watch doctors debunk these and other common posture and back pain myths.
Discover 7 Ways Cat Purring Is Good For Human Health
Did you know that cats are more than just adorable and loving companions, but can actually bestow healing properties through the power of their purring?
10 Items You Should NEVER Buy Used
As much as we'd like to be sustabanle, there are some items you should always buy fresh and new for your safety and health
This Non-Invasive Heart Surgery Could Save Thousands
This new heart surgery technique is non-invasive and could end up saving a lot of lives. Read on to find out more.
Visual Illusions: What Color Are These Strawberries?
Tricking our brain into believing that something is one color or shape than another thing is surprisingly easy, but can we explain why?
The Future is in Our Hands - Next Generation Technology
These young brilliant minds grind hard at finding and creating solution to waste recycling, and the results are promising.
12 Earliest Versions of Tech Inventions We Use Every Day
Witness the evolution of 11 popular devices we use all the time by looking at how they all started...
How Can You Recognize a Fake Gadget Before Buying It?
More often than not, you're almost unable to recognize them. So, before purchasing the product you want to have, bear in mind the following tips:
Take an Incredible Tour of Our Colossal Milky Way Galaxy
Fly Through the Milky Way Galaxy!
These Archaeological Finds Left the World Mystified
Find out more about the most mysterious discoveries that archaeologists made.
Doctors Make History With First Whole Eye Transplant
Surgeons in New York have performed the world’s first transplant of an entire human eye!
Behind the Scenes of the Human-Like Atlas Robot
In this video, we get a behind-the-scenes look at the development of the incredible Atlas robot.
These Photos Show How Dependent We are On Smartphones
Technology has taken over and these funny (but true) photos help to drive this fact home.
The Curious Science of Tricking Your Taste Buds
Did you know you could confuse your sense of taste? Find out how!
17 Incredible Eye Facts You Have To See To Believe
They say the eyes are the window to the soul, and they also happen to be our windows to the world. Here are 17 insanely fascinating facts about eyes.
Here Are the 16 Oldest Household Objects in the World
If you think ancient life is remote, these pre-historic household items will make you think again. Just look at how old they are!
NASA's Plan to Colonize the Moon by 2026
NASA has a Moon colonization plan that involves utilizing 3D printers to construct an entire space station by 2026. Here's what it will look like.
What Would You Do if You Had an Extra Thumb?
This revolutionary invention has the potential to revolutionize the field of prosthetics.
Is There Any Way To Destroy or Deflect Asteroids?
Watch an interview with Cathy Plesko, a leading scientist working on preparing for the dangers of an asteroid attack
Chocolate Exposed! Here's What It Does to Your Brain!
Just what is it that makes chocolate so irresistible to so many people around the world? Find all of the answers in the article.
The Magical Geometry of Crystals and How It Came to Be
How and why crystals are formed in such distinctive shapes that look like a human must have shaped them.
Ever Wonder What Life Is Like if We Zoom In All the Way?
A selection of some of the winning photographs from Nikon's yearly macro photography contest.
Check Out This Radio-Controlled Lego-Powered Submarine
This is the height of creativity! Check out this insanely cool Lego submarine. It actually works!
Satisfy Your Curiosity About the Universe with These Q&As
Discover more about the universe by reading through these facts.
What Metals Do We Mine the Most? This Graph Shows All!
Did you know the world mined 2.8 billion tonnes of metals in 2021? Let’s discover what metals we mined the most.
Scientists Develop 'Flying Dragon' Robot to Fight Fires
Scientists in Japan have created a water-spitting 'flying dragon' robot to fight fires.
These Inventions Prove the Middle Ages Were Not So “Dark”
These groundbreaking inventions prove the Middle Ages were not so “dark,” after all!
These Fire Tricks Will Wow You, But Don't Try Them!
These fire tricks are incredible to look at, but please don't try this at home...
7 Exciting Physics Tricks You Have to See!
Watch these seven remarkable physics tricks in this exciting and fun video.
6 Weird and Creepy Medical Tools of the Past
After seeing these weird and creepy medical devices of the past, you’ll be thankful you live in the 21st century. Take a look for yourself.
Erecting a Behemoth: Installation of an Offshore Oilrig
How do they install an offshore oilrig? This video will show you, step by step, how it is done.
7 Little-Known Body Parts We Never Knew About
Here's a look at some of the weird and little-known body parts that you didn’t know you had.
Sci Fi Tech: Jetpack Rescue!
Paramedics in Britain are being trained to conduct mountain or sea rescues using jet suits. Find out more.
16 Surprising Things I Never Knew About Sleeping!
Who knew there was so much we don't know about our most popular activity! Here are 16 facts you may not have known about your sleep.
I Bet You Didn't Have a Clue About These Human Body Facts!
The human body is the most complex machine known to mankind, but I bet you don't know these 10 amazing facts about it...
Fascinating Science: How Old Can We Actually Get?
All things being equal, and technology continually progressing - How old can a human body really get?
This Visual Shows the Science Behind the Shape of Rivers
A fascinating visual model that explains why and how rivers change their course.
Science Breakthrough: An Immunization Against Skin Cancer?
This scientific breakthrough offers hope for those who are struggling with skin cancer. You are now invited to discover more about this revolutionary vaccine.
STUDY: The Effect of Personality on Our Level of Happiness
Researchers finally know which types of people will always be happier than others.
11 Technologies to Potentially Achieving Immortality
Scientists are hard at work developing technologies that could extend our lifespans and even make us immortal. Here are 11 of them.
These Are the Miracles That Happen in Our Bodies Every Day
There is a lot that happens inside our bodies every single day. Did you know any of these facts?
You Won't Believe That These Things Exist in Japan...
If there's one place on this planet that well and truly at the forefront of modern technology, it has got to be Japan, as these inventions prove...
Researchers Claim This Ingredient Can Cure Depression!
A preliminary study has suggested that magic mushrooms may be able to soothe the symptoms of depression. Read here to find out more.
This South African Plant May be the New Cannabis
Is this plant the new cannabis? What will the woolly umbrella plant do for medicine?
Remembering the Life and Wisdom of Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking possessed one of the greatest minds the world has ever seen, but was also impaired by a debilitating disease. Here are his life ant times.