Definition
dextran
noun
- A complex polysaccharide produced by bacteria, used in medicine as a blood plasma substitute and in laboratory applications.
Usage: medical/scientific term; typically uncountable
Examples
- Dextran is commonly administered to patients who have lost significant blood volume.
- The laboratory technician used dextran as a viscosity agent in the gel electrophoresis experiment.
- Dextran solutions help maintain blood pressure and improve circulation in trauma cases.
- Researchers selected dextran for the study because of its biocompatibility with human tissue.
- The hospital stocked several units of dextran in the emergency department.