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Smarter Anti-Clotting Tools Smarter Anti-Clotting Tools
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Using infinitesimal particles of gold, researchers have discovered a way to stop blood from clotting, and then make it clot again.Using infinitesimal particles of gold, researchers have discovered a way to stop blood from clotting, and then make it clot again.
The technique could greatly improve surgical procedures, said Kimberly Hamad-Schifferli, a bioengineer at the M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratory who was involved with the research. She and her colleagues reported their findings in the journal PLoS One.The technique could greatly improve surgical procedures, said Kimberly Hamad-Schifferli, a bioengineer at the M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratory who was involved with the research. She and her colleagues reported their findings in the journal PLoS One.
Today, surgeons rely on blood thinners like heparin to prevent clots from forming during operations. These thinners do a good job with clot prevention, but then take time to wash out of the bloodstream.Today, surgeons rely on blood thinners like heparin to prevent clots from forming during operations. These thinners do a good job with clot prevention, but then take time to wash out of the bloodstream.
“Having that reversible switch is important,” Dr. Hamad-Schifferli said. “During surgery you want to temporarily suspend clotting, and when the surgery is done, you want to restore it.”“Having that reversible switch is important,” Dr. Hamad-Schifferli said. “During surgery you want to temporarily suspend clotting, and when the surgery is done, you want to restore it.”
She and her team mixed strands of DNA attached to gold nanoparticles — less than one-ten-thousandth the width of a hair — into test tubes of human blood.She and her team mixed strands of DNA attached to gold nanoparticles — less than one-ten-thousandth the width of a hair — into test tubes of human blood.
“When you make gold this small,” Dr. Hamad-Schifferli said, “it’s possible to use infrared light to excite it.” So they used infrared laser beams to cause the particles to release strands of DNA that prevented clotting and then to release other strands that restored clotting.“When you make gold this small,” Dr. Hamad-Schifferli said, “it’s possible to use infrared light to excite it.” So they used infrared laser beams to cause the particles to release strands of DNA that prevented clotting and then to release other strands that restored clotting.
These lasers could be incorporated into the instruments that surgeons already use, Dr. Hamad-Schifferli said, though she added: “It’s very far off. It would have to be done in an animal next.” These lasers could be incorporated into the instruments that surgeons already use, Dr. Hamad-Schifferli said, though she added: “It’s very far off. It would have to be done in an animal next.”
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SINDYA N. BHANOO