PITTSBURGH, Pa. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Blood – we can’t live without it. It makes up seven percent of our body weight. And this year, four and a half million people will need a blood transfusion. Blood banks continue to face dire shortages as supplies have failed to reach their pre-pandemic levels. In fact, a fifth of blood centers nationwide have less than a day’s supply of blood. And according to America’s blood centers, 29 percent have just enough to last two days. That’s why researchers are now working on ways to create blood in the lab, synthetic blood.
Every two seconds, someone needs blood. In fact, one in seven people who go into the hospital will need blood. Because the demand is so great, researchers are creating a new type of synthetic blood in the lab.
Bioengineer Susan Shea, PhD, at the University of Pittsburgh says the holy grail for transfusion is a dried artificial whole blood. Shea is part of a nationwide team working to make synthetic blood a reality. It looks like a powder and has the same components as human blood.
“This product that we’re developing will consist of a nanoparticle that is able to perform the function of a red blood cell so it can deliver oxygen,” Shea explains.
The synthetic blood does not have to match the patient’s blood type.
Shea adds, “The cellular components are artificial, and they, therefore, will not express those markers that recipients might have an adverse reaction to as they would if they received a type mismatched blood donation.”
And unlike donated blood that has a shelf life of up to 42 days, ideally, this synthetic blood could last months, even years. It does not need to be refrigerated so it can be used not only in hospitals, but ambulances, rescue helicopters and war zones – places where it’s difficult to have blood readily available.
“I don’t know that we can guarantee that this product alone will eliminate the blood shortage, but it’s certainly a very important step forward,” Shea emphasizes.
One pint of blood can save up to three lives. Only 37 percent of the U.S population is eligible to donate blood – less than 10 percent actually donate. If you are a healthy adult over the age of 17 and weigh at least 110 pounds, you can donate.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Kirk Manson, Videographer; Roque Correa, Videographer & Editor.
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Sources:
https://givingblood.org/about-blood/blood-facts.aspx
https://americasblood.org/for-donors/americas-blood-supply/
https://givingblood.org/about-blood/blood-facts.aspx
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: SAVING LIVES WITH SYNTHETIC BLOOD
REPORT: MB #5226
BACKGROUND: Someone is in need of blood every two seconds and an estimated 4.5 million Americans will need a blood transfusion every year. But only 37 percent of Americans are eligible to give blood and less than 10 percent of people do it annually. Blood is a key component for helping patients survive surgeries, cancer treatment, child births, and blood loss from traumatic injuries. Maintaining a diverse blood supply is an important component because some blood types are more rare than others. The donation process of giving blood takes about 10 minutes. However with lack of supply, and no substitution, steps on different ways to create blood have been taken in recent years.
(Source: https://givingblood.org/about-blood/blood-facts.aspx)
DIAGNOSING: Diagnosing blood transfusions involves a series of steps and tests to ensure compatibility between the donor blood and the recipient. The process is crucial in order to prevent adverse reactions and potential complications during or after the transfusion. Diagnostic procedures aim to identify any potential risks or incompatibilities, ensuring the safe and successful administration of blood products. Before a transfusion takes place, a sample of your blood will be needed to ensure your blood group. During a transfusion blood pressure, pulse, and temperature should be monitored.
(Source: https://www.nhsinform.scot/tests-and-treatments/non-surgical-procedures/blood-transfusion)
NEW TECHNOLOGY: Researchers from the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine are creating a new type of synthetic blood in the lab. The nationwide team has created a synthetic blood reality that is a powder and has the same abilities and concepts of human blood. It comes in lightweight bags and has an “add water” direction. This new synthetic blood has a shelf life of possibly years as opposed to the 42 days blood donations have. The powder does not need to be refridgerated and can be used in setting that are not only the hospital such as, ambulances, helicopters, and war zones. Before they test artificial blood in humans, they must know exactly how the blood works microscopically. The researchers are currently putting the artificial blood against intense clinical testing.
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Anastasia Gorelova
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