A team of researchers from UCLA and UC San Diego has developed a breakthrough injectable sealant that could change how doctors treat injuries to soft, elastic organs like the lungs, heart, and blood vessels. This new hydrogel—made from a special form of human protein and nanoplatelets—offers stronger, safer, and faster healing compared to traditional stitches or surgical glue.

This innovation is especially important for organs that constantly move—like the lungs that expand and contract with every breath, or the heart that beats continuously. Traditional stitches or rigid glues can’t keep up with this movement and may lead to bleeding or tissue damage. That’s where this new MeTro/SN hydrogel comes in.

🧪 What is MeTro/SN Hydrogel?

The hydrogel is made by combining:

• Methacryloyl-modified human recombinant tropoelastin (MeTro) – a stretchy, biocompatible protein similar to natural tissue.
• Laponite silicate nanoplatelets (SNs) – tiny particles that help with blood clotting and boost strength.

When mixed and activated by visible light, this injectable material seals injuries, stops bleeding, and adheres tightly to wet, moving tissues—all without harming surrounding cells.

🔍 How Was It Tested?

Researchers tested this new sealant in rat and pig models with injuries to the lungs, arteries, and heart. They looked at:

• Adhesion strength
• Burst pressure (how much force the sealant can handle)
• Clotting time
• Biocompatibility (how well it works with the body)

The results were promising:

• On lung tissue, MeTro/SN showed double the adhesion strength compared to MeTro alone.
• It handled higher internal pressures, making it more reliable for sealing major organs.
• It reduced blood clotting time and blood loss by up to 99% compared to untreated controls.
• No harmful immune reactions or inflammation were observed even after 28 days.

💡 Why This Matters

Soft organ injuries are difficult to treat because traditional tools like sutures or surgical glues don’t work well on moving, wet, or elastic tissues. This new injectable hydrogel sealant could provide doctors with a faster, safer, and less invasive solution for sealing wounds and stopping bleeding.

It could also be a game-changer in trauma care, emergency surgeries, and battlefield medicine, where time is critical and conventional methods are not always possible.

🌟 What We Think at The Doctorpreneur Academy

At The Doctorpreneur Academy, we believe innovations like MeTro/SN hydrogel represent the future of smart, personalized, and less invasive healthcare. This new sealant could give surgeons and trauma doctors a reliable tool to treat life-threatening injuries more effectively and with fewer side effects.

We empower doctors to stay ahead with such emerging technologies, so they can elevate patient care and lead innovation in their practice.

✅ Call to Action

Want to explore how innovations like injectable sealants and biocompatible hydrogels are shaping the future of surgery?

Join The Doctorpreneur Academy and become part of a growing community of doctors who are transforming healthcare with technology, research, and innovation.

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