"We have found a way to stop bleeding, in less than 15 seconds, that could revolutionize bleeding control," said Rutledge Ellis-Behnke, an MIT researcher and lead author of the study, which was published Wednesday in the online edition of the journal Nanomedicine.ed.

    The material could provide a quick method for controlling bleeding during surgeries without causing other damage, according to Ellis-Behnke.

    "The time to perform an operation could potentially be reduced by up to 50 percent," he said.

    The liquid is composed of protein fragments called peptides. When applied to an open wound, the peptides self-assemble into a gel that seals the wound and stops bleeding.

    Eventually, the gel breaks down into amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, that can be used by surrounding cells for tissue repair.

    The researchers used a similar liquid to promote the regrowth of brain cells and partially restore sight in hamsters earlier this year.

    For this study, they applied the clear liquid to open wounds in brain, liver, skin, spinal cord and intestinal tissue in hamsters and rats.

    "In almost every one of the cases, we were able to immediately stop the bleeding," Ellis-Behnke said. Enditem

    (Agencies)