American developed 'artificial spleen'

The function of the spleen is to filter the blood. However, when we are seriously ill or injured, the spleen sometimes is not strong enough to remove toxins from the blood stream as usual, resulting in a blood infection.

To prevent this, scientists at Harvard University's Wyss Institute for Creative Biological Applications (USA) have developed a device that has the same function of dialysis as the spleen.

The process begins when the patient's blood is passed through the device to dissolve the magnetic nanoparticles. These molecules are surrounded by blood proteins called opsonin , which have been genetically modified with the ability to adhere to pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and poisons. The blood mixture and the nanoparticles then flow through a series of tubes where the magnets are waiting to "suck" the nanoparticles and pathogens out of the blood, while the clean blood is taken. back to the patient's body. Particularly in the dialysis process, patients do not need to use anticoagulants by the inner surface of the ducts covered with a super hydrophobic material called SLIPS , also by Harvard University experts. development.

The group said they are planning to conduct trials on large animals before applying them on humans. Reportedly, Wyss Academy has just received a contract worth $ 9.25 million from the Advanced Defense Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the US Department of Defense to develop a complete "nuclear spleen" spleen-on-a-chip , aimed at serving the future of American soldiers.