How to hide surgical implants from the immune system
Paint them with platelets
Platelets play an essential role in healing. These curious beasts (pictured above), are cell fragments rather than complete cells—though they are still surrounded by cell membranes. Their main job, in collaboration with a protein called fibrin, is to stem the flow of blood from wounds by causing clots. They also encourage the regeneration of damaged tissue.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Painting with platelets”
From the June 18th 2022 edition
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