Nanosponge Soaks Up Toxins Released by Bacterial Infections and Venom

A nanosponge invented by engineers at the University of California, San Diego can safely remove many dangerous toxins from the bloodstream, including those produced by MRSA, E. coli, poisonous snakes, and bees. Composed of a biocompatible polymer core, the nanosponge is wrapped in a natural red blood cell membrane to evade the immune system. These nanosponges neutralize pore-forming toxins, which destroy cells by poking holes in their cell membranes. Unlike other anti-toxin platforms that need to be custom synthesized for individual toxin type, the nanosponges can absorb different pore-forming toxins regardless of their molecular structures.

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00:00:07 engineers at the University of California San Diego have invented a completely new way to cleanse the bloodstream of toxins released by a wide range of pathogens such as Mera and other antibiotic resistant bacteria as well as Venom from snake or insect bites the nanosponge is composed of a biocompatible polymer core wrapped in a natural red blood cell membrane to evade

00:00:26 the immune system each Nano sponge can absorb tens to hundreds of toxins before it is eventually metabolized by the liver with no ill effects just one red blood cell membrane can make thousands of Nanos sponges which are 3,000 times smaller than a red blood cell this Army of nanosponges floods the bloodstream outnumbering red blood cells and intercepting toxins nanosponges absorb

00:00:48 these toxins regardless of their molecular structure [Music] for