This is one of the coolest things I have read about in the
past few months. I stumbled upon an article on Gizmodo titled “Scientists
Invent Particles That Let You Live Without Breathing,” and I was immediately
intrigued.
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| from Gizmodo |
Scientists have been searching for a way to inject oxygen
particles into blood for years now. This would allow physicians to keep a
patient alive for an extended period of time after respiratory failure, a feat
we have not been able to accomplish until now. Respiratory failure quickly
leads to cardiac arrest and brain injury. Early attempts of injecting oxygen
led to air bubbles and the current treatments rely on the machinery of the
lungs, which is often not reliable.
Researchers at the Boston Children’s Hospital developed a
method to inject oxygen particles into the blood stream allowing for 15 to 30
additional minutes without physical breathing. These particles have been tested
on oxygen-deprived rabbits, and successfully restored oxygen levels to near-normal
levels. Rabbits with their windpipes completely blocked were able to survive
for 15 minutes with the help of these particles. As soon as the mixture is
injected, the oxygen particles quickly bind to hemoglobin and the lipids
dissolve and disintegrate into the blood. However, the particles can only be
used to add 15 to 30 minutes because the fluid could overload the blood if used
for longer periods of time.
The particles are made up of oxygen and lipid molecules. A
single layer of lipids surrounds a few oxygen particles and this is then
delivered in a liquid solution intravenously. The structure is similar to that
of a phospholipid bilayer containing the contents of a cell. The liquid
solution can easily be carried by paramedics and used in code carts.
A sonicator mixes the oxygen and lipid particles together
with the help of high-intensity sound waves. The particles themselves are about
two to four micrometers in size, and not visible with the human eye. The
solution actually contains three to four times the amount of oxygen in our blood.
In fact, 70% of the solution is made up of oxygen particles.
This was all possible because of a diverse team of experts
in chemical engineering, particle chemistry, and medical doctors. This
treatment is currently being further tested and optimized for human use. It has
the potential to save millions of lives every year. Keep an eye out for it!
Scientists Invent Particles That Will Let You Live Without
Breathing:
An Incredible New Way to Breathe During an Emergency:
Injecting Life-Saving Oxygen Into a Vein:
Oxygen Gas-Filled Microparticles Provide Intravenous Oxygen
Delivery:
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