Will we still be able to breathe in the future? Scientists have invented one of the greatest medical breakthroughs in years: A microparticle that can be injected into a person’s bloodstream that will quickly oxygenate their blood. It will work if the ability to breathe has been restricted, or even cut off entirely, and will be great for asthma sufferers and drowning victims. It could save millions of lives a year, as well as prevent heart attacks or brain injuries that can occur when oxygen is restricted or cut off.
The microparticles are composed of oxygen gas of about 3 to 4 times the amount in our red blood cells, contained in a layer of lipids. A lipid is a natural molecule that can store energy and act as a part of a cell membrane–they can be made of many things, such as wax or vitamins. In this case, fat is the lipid that stores the oxygen.
On the Tech Wench website, Damien S. Wilhelmi thanks its inventor, Dr. John Kheir, for "reminding me that people and their ingenuity are nothing short of awesome."
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