Scientists have discovered that fibrin fibers could stretch to three times its length before going back to its original state, while some could even stretch to six times their original length before breaking.
Fibrin involved in blood clotting is developed in the blood from a soluble protein, fibrinogen. When an injury occurs fibrin is deposited around the wound in the form of a mesh, which dries and hardens, so that bleeding stops.In an endeavor to find the breaking point of fibrin fibers, Roy Hantgan and his colleagues stretched the fibrin fibers as far as it could go without breaking and found that it can stretch up to six times its original length before breaking.
In a statement made by Roy Hantgan, Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Wake Forest University Medical School, he said the study "helps us to understand how tough it is to remove a clot that is preventing blood flow to a person's heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke."
Assistant professor of Physics at Wake Forest, Martin Guthold, has described the results of the study as a "stunning revelation," as the breaking point of fibrin was thought to be much lower than what was found in the study.
