<p>A team at Edinburgh University, which is developing such a bandage, has already discovered a group of polymers -- molecules used in the manufacture of plastics -- which could accelerate the crucial clotting properties of blood platelets.<br /><br />The polymers could have significant use in battlefield conditions as they can be sprayed on to bandages and applied directly to an injury to instantly begin coagulation process, say the scientists.<br /><br />The problem of treating battlefield wounds remains a major challenge with "bleeding out" -- the loss of too much blood to sustain pressure and heartbeat -- one of the major causes of death after injury.<br /><br />The polymers could also have a much wider use in civilian life if incorporated into the sticking plasters commonly used to stop blood flow from cuts and other injuries, 'The Scotsman' reported.<br /><br />Using a new identification technique, the scientists tested huge numbers of polymer combinations for more than 12 months before pinpointing the few types which have the key characteristics needed to kick-start the healing process. <br /><br />Lead scientist Prof Mark Bradley said the polymers have practical applications in both military and civilian situations.<br /><br />"Polymers can be processed on to a bandage or even a mesh, similar to that used in a plaster, to stop the gauze adhering to the scab, to start clotting process. Hopefully, you would be able to whip out a packet of bandages that would immediately staunch the blood from the wound," he said.<br /><br />The team used technology similar to that incorporated in inkjet printers to mix the materials to create the thousands of polymers needed to find the ones with the right qualities.<br /><br />The new process developed at the university allows up to 2,000 polymers to be tested as quickly as it took to test five before. The polymers were then sprayed onto glass plates where they were placed in contact with blood platelets.<br /><br />Prof Bradley said: "We then took this very large number of polymers and added platelets, the materials in our body that coagulate and stop bleeding.<br /><br />"The idea was that by adding blood, we could identify which of these polymers the platelets were, firstly, binding to, and, secondly, were being activated by -- that is to say to start forming the fibres that seal up the wound."</p>
<p>A team at Edinburgh University, which is developing such a bandage, has already discovered a group of polymers -- molecules used in the manufacture of plastics -- which could accelerate the crucial clotting properties of blood platelets.<br /><br />The polymers could have significant use in battlefield conditions as they can be sprayed on to bandages and applied directly to an injury to instantly begin coagulation process, say the scientists.<br /><br />The problem of treating battlefield wounds remains a major challenge with "bleeding out" -- the loss of too much blood to sustain pressure and heartbeat -- one of the major causes of death after injury.<br /><br />The polymers could also have a much wider use in civilian life if incorporated into the sticking plasters commonly used to stop blood flow from cuts and other injuries, 'The Scotsman' reported.<br /><br />Using a new identification technique, the scientists tested huge numbers of polymer combinations for more than 12 months before pinpointing the few types which have the key characteristics needed to kick-start the healing process. <br /><br />Lead scientist Prof Mark Bradley said the polymers have practical applications in both military and civilian situations.<br /><br />"Polymers can be processed on to a bandage or even a mesh, similar to that used in a plaster, to stop the gauze adhering to the scab, to start clotting process. Hopefully, you would be able to whip out a packet of bandages that would immediately staunch the blood from the wound," he said.<br /><br />The team used technology similar to that incorporated in inkjet printers to mix the materials to create the thousands of polymers needed to find the ones with the right qualities.<br /><br />The new process developed at the university allows up to 2,000 polymers to be tested as quickly as it took to test five before. The polymers were then sprayed onto glass plates where they were placed in contact with blood platelets.<br /><br />Prof Bradley said: "We then took this very large number of polymers and added platelets, the materials in our body that coagulate and stop bleeding.<br /><br />"The idea was that by adding blood, we could identify which of these polymers the platelets were, firstly, binding to, and, secondly, were being activated by -- that is to say to start forming the fibres that seal up the wound."</p>