Nearly every person, at one time or another, has scraped a knee or sliced a finger. Accidents happen, and for the last century, everyone from soldiers to chefs to children have been dressing their wounds the same way – with adhesive bandages.
That might change in the next two or three years. Vetigel, a new hemostatic gel, is currently going through testing and development, and it might provide the world with a new instant wound treatment. The medicine promises to stop bleeding within 15 seconds of application, keep the wound closed and dissolve naturally in the body.
How Does it Work?
Vetigel is applied to the wound via syringe, and once it contacts the point of bleeding, it works in tandem with the body’s clotting fibers to collect platelets and staunch blood loss in just seconds. Through this process, Vetigel can stop blood flow in seconds, and unlike the adhesive treatments before it, it has the strength to maintain clotting to prevent the wound from bleeding again.
Early tests show Vetigel working on both skin and internal organs without any need for manual pressure or lengthy preparation.
What is it?
Vetigel was created from plant cell polymers to collect a non-globular protein called fibrin. Fibrin is a key factor in the prevention of blood loss, and together, it works with the Vetigel to make rapid and strong clots.
Because of its organic, plant-based origins, Vetigel is bio absorbable, meaning it can be easily and safely absorbed as the wound naturally heals. It’s biocompatible, and the material is terminally sterilized by gamma irradiation or peracetic acid before it’s manufactured.
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Who Makes It?
Vetigel was created and developed by Suneris, a Brooklyn-based biotechnology company whose mission is to use biomedical engineering to develop and manufacture products that advance the standard of medical treatments. Co-founder Joe Landolina, who invented Suneris’s polymer technology when he was 17 years old, has won awards and recognition for his innovative research. Fellow co-founder, Isaac Miller, manages the long-term growth of Suneris’ products.
Where is it Sold?
Vetigel is still in the testing phase and hasn’t yet treated a human subject. It’s currently being used by veterinary clinics to aid in the treatment of wounded animals, but the next step is to test on human tissue. After testing, Suneris will seek FDA approval, and if all goes well, the company hopes to have Vetigel on the open veterinary market in the early months of 2016. The creators hope to get approval for human use by 2018 or 2019.
What Does it Mean for Medicine?
Upon its wide release, Vetigel could have a staggeringly positive effect on the medical industry. The speed and effectiveness at which it dresses wounds could change the nature of emergency medicine. Job descriptions for EMTs and other emergency responders could change drastically. Rapid blood loss may no longer be a concern. Instead of monitoring bleeding or applying pressure to an open wound, crews could simply apply a little Vetigel and direct their attention to a patient’s other needs.
The creators want it in ambulances, on battlefields and in purses. They hope to use it to treat burns as well as cuts. One day, they suggest, it might even aid in the regeneration of organs.
But even if it does nothing else outside of staunching blood loss, this organic polymer still stands to revolutionize the medical industry.
