It’s a good example of the spreading use of nanotechnology – artificial blood platelets composed of nanoparticles. Platelets are a small blood-cell type and one of the principle components of blood coagulation, the process used by the body to stop bleeding. Applying nanotechnology to platelets is not an earth-shaking development but it seems a logical move. Researchers constructed their platelets from a nanoparticle and protein mix and discovered they can be used very quickly and effectively in emergency situations.

James Bertram and colleagues have designed synthetic platelets that stop bleeding internally by ramping up blood clotting. An essential part of the process that heals cut or damaged blood vessels, blood clots consist of a plug of platelets meshed together with fibrous protein molecules. In the study, the researchers tested the synthetic platelets, made from materials used in other devices approved by the FDA, in a rat model of arterial bleeding. They found that the platelets halved bleeding time after being injected, and were significantly more effective at stopping bleeding than recombinant factor Vlla–the drug currently used to speed up clotting. The synthetic platelets work by bonding with natural blood platelets; they act as a nanostructure to enhance the rate of platelet aggregation, which rapidly curbs bleeding.
 
[Source: EurekAlert]

 
It should be emphasized that the current study was conducted with rats. Transfer of the technology for human use will involve far more testing and considerable time.