A New Fibrin Sealant FromCrotalus durissus terrificusVenom: Applications in Medicine

Abstract

Fibrin sealant, a widely available tissue adhesive, has been used since 1940 in a variety of clinical applications. Commercially available fibrin sealant products are synthesized from bovine thrombin and human fibrinogen, which may transmit infectious diseases, and recipients may also develop antibodies against bovine thrombin. Bearing these disadvantages in mind, a new fibrin sealant was developed in 1989 by a group of researchers from the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals, in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The main purpose was to produce an adhesive fibrin without using human blood, to avoid transmitting infectious diseases. The components of this novel sealant were extracted from large animals and a serine proteinase extracted from Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom. The applicability of this sealant was tested in animals and humans with beneficial results. The new fibrin sealant can be a useful tool clinically due to its flexibility and diversity of applications. This sealant is a biological and biodegradable product that (1) does not produce adverse reactions, (1) contains no human blood, (3) has a good adhesive capacity, (4) gives no transmission of infectious diseases, and (5) may be used as an adjuvant in conventional suture procedures. The effectiveness of this new fibrin sealant is reviewed and its development and employment are described.

Hydroxyapatite and a New Fibrin Sealant Derived from Snake Venom as Scaffold to Treatment of Cranial Defects in Rats

“…However, the use of this commercial fibrin sealant is limited by the 12 . In addition, patients may develop antibodies against bovine thrombin 13 . In an attempt to overcome these difficulties, another sealant consisting of a thrombin-like enzyme extracted from snake venom and fibrinogen obtained from large animals to replace human components has shown excellent results in experimental studies on the regeneration of different tissues [14][15][16][17][18] , in mesenchymal cell cultures 19 , and in the healing of skin wound, venous ulcers and gingival graft sutures in humans 20,21 .…”

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Improves the Repair Process of Peripheral Nerve Injuries: A Mini Review

“…Its differential characteristics as being a biological and biodegradable compound, not producing adverse reactions since there are no remnants of human blood components and thus do not transmit infectious diseases, in addition to good adhesive quality that gives it the function of replacing the suture conventional [13].…”

“…Fibrin sealant derived from snake venom (Crotalus durissus terrificus) has been highlighted in the international literature [10][11][12][13]. Produced by the research group of the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP, UNESP/Botucatu-SP, Brazil), it presents three individual solutions that must be homogenized before application: fibrinogen originated from buffalo blood; calcium chloride and a thrombin-like fraction.…”

Universities and neglected diseases: it is not enough to have the knowledge, it must be applied

“…It was called the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP) of UNESP, and would pursue the objective of increasing the bioprospecting of molecules from toxins and applying them for the benefit of humans (5,6). At that time, the bioprospecting of fibrin sealant derived from snake venom started, because the similar product manufactured from bovine thrombin and human fibrinogen, might transmit infectious diseases.…”