A nanofiber hydrogel infused with snake venom may be the best material to stop bleeding quickly—and may perform better than anticoagulants, a new study suggests.
The hydrogel called SB50 incorporates batroxobin, a venom produced by two species of South American pit viper. It can be injected as a liquid and quickly turns into a gel that conforms to the site of a wound, keeping it closed, and promotes clotting within seconds.
The findings suggest the hydrogel may be most useful for surgeries, particularly for patients who take anti-coagulant drugs to thin their blood.
It's interesting that you can take something so deadly and turn it into something that has the potential to save lives
