Imagine a powder saving the limbs of wounded war heroes. Yes, this unbelievable miracle is true. “Pixie Dust”, a substance made from pig bladders has the ability to help the human body grow new tissue to replace large areas of a leg or arm destroyed by blast damage. Presently being used on soldiers in Afghanistan, the powder comprises of a collagen-filled substance from pig bladder called extracellular matrix.
Developed by scientists at the Centre of Regenerative Medicine in Pittsburgh, Pixie Dust has already succeeded in growing a completely new finger tip including blood vessels tissue, skin and finger nail. Surgeons in Houston, Texas have already treated several young soldiers whose limbs were damaged badly. This ingenious discovery will revolutionize the treatment of amputated limbs.
Via: Inhabitat