黏糊糊的鼻涕虫激发能“救死扶伤” 的医疗胶水。
A defensive mucus secreted by slugs has inspired a new kind of adhesive that could transform medicine, say scientists.
科学家说,由鼻涕虫分泌的一种防御性粘液激发了一种新型的粘合剂,这可以改变医学。
The "bio-glue" is incredibly strong, moves with the body and crucially, sticks to wet surfaces.
这种"生物胶水"是令人难以置信的强大,它不仅与身体一起移动,其最关键的地方是, 它还粘在潮湿的表面。
The team at Harvard University have even used it to seal a hole in a pig's heart.
哈佛大学的团队甚至用这种粘合剂封住猪心脏的一个洞。
Experts have described the glue as "really cool" and said there would be "absolutely huge demand" for it.
专家们将这种胶水描述为"非常酷",并表示市场将对种粘合剂有 “绝对巨大的需求”。
Getting something to stick to a damp surface has been a huge challenge - think what happens when you get a plaster on your finger wet.
在潮湿的表面上粘东西是一个巨大的挑战—想想当你的手指是湿的时候沾上石膏时会发生什么。
The university's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering turned to the "Dusky Arion" slug, which creates sticky mucus as a defence against predators.
该大学的Wyss生物启发工程学院转向“暗色蛞蝓“,这种动物在抵御捕食者时会分泌出粘性粘液。
"We engineered our material to take on the key features of slug mucus and the result is really positive," researcher Dr Jianyu Li said.
研究人员李建宇(译音)博士说:"我们设计了这种材料,以蛞蝓粘液为关键特征,结果确实非常好。”
The bio-glue they produced has two components - the actual adhesive and a biochemical "shock absorber”.
他们生产的生物胶水有两个组成部分--实际粘合剂和一种生化"减震器"。
Experiments, published in the journal Science, show the glue is not toxic to living tissue and is three times stronger than any other medical adhesive.
在《科学》杂志上发表的实验显示,胶水对活体组织没有毒性,比任何其他医用粘合剂都强三倍。
Dr Li told the BBC News website: "I'm really amazed by this system. We have solved a big challenge and opened up big opportunities in the medical setting.
李博士在BBC新闻网站上说:"我对这个系统真的很惊讶。我们解决了一个巨大的难题,在医疗环境中开拓了很多大的机会。
"The applications are pretty broad - the material is very tough, stretchy and compliant, which is very useful when you want to interface with a dynamic tissue like the heart or lungs.”
"应用非常广泛-材料是非常坚韧,具有很强的伸缩性和兼容性,对于需要一个动态组织,诸如心脏或肺部等,是非常有用的。
It could be used as a patch on the skin or as a liquid injected into wounds deeper in the body.
它可以用来修复皮肤上的组织,或作为液体注入到身体,以疗愈更深的伤口。
There are also ideas about using it as a way of releasing drugs to specific parts of the body or to stick medical devices to organs like those to help the heart beat.
它也作为一种向身体的特定部位缓释药物的方式,或将医疗器械粘在器官上,像帮助心脏跳动的仪器。
The glue adheres to a surface within three minutes, but then gets stronger. Within half an hour it is as strong as the body's own cartilage.
这种胶水在三分钟内的表面就会粘住,但随后变得更强。在半小时内, 它和身体自身的软骨一样强壮。
Huge demand’
巨大的需求
Dr Chris Holland, from the department of materials science and engineering at the University of Sheffield, said: "It's really cool, I must admit.
来自Sheffield大学材料科学与工程系的Chris Holland博士说:“这真的很棒,我必须承认。
"It is clear it outperforms the alternatives on the market and oh my goodness, there is potentially absolutely huge demand.
"显然,它优于市场上的其它选择,哦,我的天哪,有绝对巨大的潜在需求。
"They are still at an early stage, but this kind of thing could be part of a surgeon's standard kit.”
“它们仍然处于早期阶段,但这种事情可能成为一个外科医生的标准配置的一部分。
But there is not yet a technology ready for medical use.
但是至今为止,还没有一个技术成熟到可以供医疗使用。
So far it has proven its capabilities mechanically in the laboratory, in tests on rats and by sealing a hole in a pig's heart through tens of thousands of simulated heartbeats.
到目前为止,这个粘合剂在机械方面已经在实验室中证明了它的能力,这包括在老鼠身上的实验,以及密封了洞的猪心已经通过了数万次模拟心跳。
The Wyss Institute, which has applied for a patent, says the glue is cheap to make.
申请专利的Wyss研究所说,这种胶水的制造成本很低。
‘Life-saver'
'拯救生命‘
It is also working on biodegradable versions that would naturally disappear as the body heals.
该学院还在致力研究一个生物降解的版本,这样随着身体的痊愈,这个粘合剂自然会消失。
Prof John Hunt, the research theme lead for medical technologies and advanced materials at Nottingham Trent University, told the BBC: "The need for new adhesives as glues or tapes is clear to all healthcare providers.
Nottingham Trent大学医疗技术和先进材料研究主题主研究员John Hunt教授告诉BBC:“所有的医疗保健提供者对新的粘合剂作为胶水或胶条的需要都是显而易见的。”
"This one has the potential to improve healthcare and save lives.
"这个有潜力改善医疗保健并拯救生命。
"This research is really exciting [but] the detail of the biocompatibility will need to go beyond what is presented in the paper to guide the long-term clinical efficacy, safety, and therefore the real medical applications.”
“这项研究是非常令人兴奋的,[但]生物相容性的细节需要比在本文中提出的更详细,这样才能指导长期临床疗效,安全性,从而,才能真正进入医疗应用。”
来源:本文原载于“充满阳光的房间”微信公众号,为该公众号的原创作品,转载已获得授权。
(编辑:jilihua)