Freeze-Dried Platelet Product Slows Swelling and Bleeding In TBI

Summary: Scientists at UC San Francisco found a new way to treat traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). They tested a freeze-dried blood product called Thrombosomes. When someone takes a bad hit to the head, their brain can bleed and swell up days later because the blood vessels start to leak. Right now, doctors mostly have to use major surgery to fix this.

But this new product actually fixes the leaky vessels to stop the swelling! It is made of blood platelets mixed with a special sugar. Regular platelets only last a week in the fridge, but these freeze-dried ones can sit on an ambulance shelf for five years. In tests on mice, it worked safely and quickly to protect the brain. Since it is already being tested in humans for other bleeding issues, it could soon be a massive lifesaver for athletes, soldiers, and anyone who gets a severe head injury.

For more details, see rssapp-ucsf-edu-news at ucsf.edu/news/2026/04/431806/freeze-dried-platelet-product-slows-swelling-and-bleeding-tbi (opens in new tab)