Seashell bandage will save soldiers
A bandage made from the shells of crustaceans that can save the lives of wounded soldiers in the battlefield or bleeding motorists in a road accident has been developed locally at a fraction of the cost in the West.
It was developed by Colonel Supang Wongkhan, a researcher with the Royal Thai Army's Defence Pharmaceutical Factory, in an Army-funded project. The seashell bandage is not only highly effective at stopping bleeding but also sanitises the wound. In the laboratory, the bandage has proven to be capable of stopping bleeding within a minute of being applied to a wound, Supang said. It also prevents infection of the wound, he said. The active ingredient in the bandage is chitosan, which is derived from the shells of the Alaskan King Crab, giant tiger prawns and squid pens (the transparent backbone). Supang said the US Army had hired a private company to produce a similar bandage from such waste for use in the Iraq war. But whereas the US-made bandage cost about US$100 (Bt3,750) per piece, his bandage cost only Bt100 for a similar-sized piece of about 10 centimetres by 10cm. Supang said the bandage would be of special benefit to soldiers fighting the insurgency in the three southernmost provinces. It would save them from bleeding to death before they were able to get proper medical attention, he said. No medical knowledge or special training is required to use the bandage. Apart from the its use on the battlefield, the bandage can also save lives in road accidents, Supang said, adding that it could be carried by rescue volunteers. The bandage also has good export potential. The shells of giant tiger prawns and squid pens are considered waste in Thailand and cost only Bt3-4 per kilogram. In a related project, Supang has developed a film from chitosan and turmeric that also helps wounds to heal. While the chitosan stops bleeding and sanitises the wound, the turmeric extract helps the healing process, he said. The development of the turmeric-chitosan film was funded by the National Research Council of Thailand as part of a scheme to encourage scientific research into the uses of turmeric. Both the seashell bandage and the turmeric-chitosan film are on display at the National Herbal Fair 2006 at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani. The fair opened on Wednesday and ends tomorrow.
Arthit Khwankhom The Nation
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