Nanosponge

Engineers at the University of California at San Diego have fabricated “nanosponges,” made of a biocompatible polymer wrapped in the membrane of red blood cells, that can absorb and clear a variety of toxins from such sources as MRSA, e. Coli, snake and bee venom.  In animal tests, the nanosponges had a half life of 40 hours, and produced a 44% survival among mice which had previously been given a lethal dose of toxin.  They caused no liver damage.  MORE

Image Credit: Zhang Research Lab and ScienceDaily.com