Mucus secreted by salamanders to replace surgical glue
Scientists: secretion from the Chinese giant salamander could replace surgical glue — it bonds tissue more strongly than fibrin and without cyanoacrylate's side effects.
Scientists: secretion from the Chinese giant salamander could replace surgical glue — it bonds tissue more strongly than fibrin and without cyanoacrylate's side effects.
Researchers at the Zhang Engineering Living Systems Laboratory turned their attention to the Chinese giant salamander. Its secretion, released in case of injury, bonds tissues remarkably well. It also improves skin elasticity and reduces scar tissue formation.
The specialists collected the secretion from salamanders, dried it into a powder, and then rehydrated it with water. The resulting agent was applied to damaged pig skin under laboratory conditions. It turned out the substance bonded more strongly than surgical glue while retaining the elasticity characteristic of fibrin (the body's "natural glue").
The agent was slightly weaker than the chemical adhesive cyanoacrylate, but it caused no side effects — no skin irritation and no flu-like symptoms. The secretion was also tested on live rats with wounds. Its use enabled rapid wound closure with almost no scar tissue or inflammation.
Book a visit — we will pick a convenient time.