MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MASSACHUSETTS, USA. Sponges layered with thrombin can immediately stop bleeding. They are more effective than the use of the traditional gauze and tourniquets. Also, they can be used in almost any part of the body. A good example is the neck which cannot be applied with a typical tourniquet.

Thrombin is a clotting agent that is already found in the blood. This nanoscale breakthrough at MIT can save many lives of soldiers bleeding out on the battlefield or any individual who sustained trauma and are away from hospitals. Pre-coated sponges with thrombin can be easily packed by medics, soldiers or any medical personnel. They can be easily shaped to fit any kind of wound size.

These days, there are hospitals who employ this method to stop bleeding. They are in liquid form and must still be soaked in sponges before they can be applied over the wound. This method is somewhat impractical especially on battlefield. MIT researchers utilize a spray-on biological nanoscale coating. It has alternating layers of tannic acid and thrombin resulting in a film that contains a huge amount of useful thrombin. This has a better shelf life especially on battlefield. They are already FDA approved.

The MIT lab is currently developing a sponge that is coated with a blood-clotting coating and combined with a layer of antibiotic. This new development will absolutely stops the bleeding and at the same time fights off any infection on the wound.