1. Plural of dextran; complex carbohydrate polymers produced by bacteria, used in medical and industrial applications.
Usage: medical/scientific term; typically used in plural form or as mass noun
2. Solutions containing dextran molecules, commonly used as blood plasma substitutes or volume expanders in medical treatment.
Usage: medical context

Examples

• Dextrans are often administered intravenously to patients with severe blood loss.
• The hospital uses dextrans as a substitute for blood plasma in emergency situations.
• Different molecular weights of dextrans serve different medical purposes.
• Dextrans can be produced through bacterial fermentation of sucrose.
• The viscosity of dextrans makes them effective for maintaining blood volume.