Fibrinogen discovery reshapes understanding of how wounds heal
Scientists have redefined how the key blood-clotting protein fibrinogen behaves when it contacts air, overturning two decades of scientific consensus on wound healing. It is the culmination of more than a decade of international collaboration by Dr. Richard Campbell of The University of Manchester, Professor Juan Ruso of the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain and Dr. Natalia Hassan of…
Scientists have overturned two decades of consensus on wound healing by redefining the behavior of fibrinogen, a key blood-clotting protein. The discovery, a result of a decade-long international collaboration, could transform the treatment of clotting disorders like hemophilia and inform healthcare for patients on blood thinners such as warfarin.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, reveals that fibrinogen builds multiple, stacked layers when it contacts air, rather than the previously accepted single tilting layer model. This new understanding could enhance biosensor design and explain how lung collapse occurs in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
The researchers utilized neutron reflectometry at the Institut Laue-Langevin in France to demonstrate that this behavior applies across various concentrations and solution conditions. Principal investigator Dr. Richard Campbell noted that challenging established models is always difficult, but their advanced technique provided unprecedented insight into the structure of fibrinogen at liquid surfaces.
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