Blood-compatible nanotech
Researchers at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, have engineered blood-compatible nanoscale materials using an anticoagulant called heparin, a therapeutic used to maintain blood flow and prevent clotting during medical procedures. Robert Linhardt and co. have shown that a composite heparin membrane with nanopores can work as a dialyzer, an artificial kidney, filtering the flood and maintaining blood flow. Furthermore, now that nanotech is hemo-compatible, it opens the door for nerve and tissue repair, as well as nanomed cancer treatments. Just imagine, a swarm of nanobots swimming around your bloodstream, fighting bad cholestarol, cleaning up carcinogens, unclogging capillaries, improving circulation, and easing stress on the heart. Stick them in my vein.
Blood-compatible nanoscale materials possible using heparin, EurekAlert.org