Japanese Scientists to Launch Clinical Trials for Universal Synthetic Blood
As per the Red Cross, every two seconds, an individual in the United States requires blood or platelets. Viewing the global scenario, the World Health Organization indicates that 40% of blood donations are sourced from high-income nations, where just 16% of the global population resides. With these issues in mind, a group of Japanese researchers has developed artificial blood, which could revolutionize the future of blood transfusions.
Under the leadership of Hiromi Sakai from Nara Medical University, the researchers have created an artificial blood type applicable to any patient. This is achieved by extracting hemoglobin—the protein responsible for oxygen transport in red blood cells—from expired donor blood. The extracted hemoglobin is enclosed within a protective lipid layer, forming artificial red blood cells referred to as hemoglobin vesicles, capable of efficiently delivering oxygen to tissues, similar to natural blood.
Since these artificial cells lack blood type identifiers, this synthetic blood can be given to anyone, regardless of their blood type. If made widely accessible, it could ease the need for O-negative blood, the type recognized as the universal donor. Moreover, it boasts a shelf life of up to two years at room temperature and five years if refrigerated—a significant contrast to the 42-day lifespan of donated blood. Additionally, it presents an excellent option in disaster areas and regions with scarce resources and access.
After an initial trial of hemoglobin vesicles in 2022, a clinical trial was initiated in March. In these studies, 100 to 400 milliliters of the artificial blood cells were administered to 16 healthy participants. The latest research has reported no side effects, indicating the trial may progress to assessing the artificial blood’s effectiveness and safety. Despite the potential, some experts harbor doubts regarding its widespread application since reliance on human blood could limit production scale.
Concurrently, Professor Teruyuki Komatsu from Chuo University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering has opted for a different method in creating artificial blood. Instead of encapsulating it in a lipid shell, Komatsu has surrounded it with a protein known as albumin. This oxygen carrier, free from blood types and viruses, has undergone testing in animal studies, where Komatsu affirmed the synthetic blood’s efficacy in stabilizing blood pressure during hemorrhages and aiding in stroke treatment.
Newsweek states that Sakai’s laboratory revealed that his team’s innovation could alleviate prevalent issues such as “risk of infection, blood type incompatibility, immune reactions, and limited shelf life, which is inadequate for stockpiling in emergencies.” If all proceeds as anticipated, Sakai and his group aim for the blood to potentially enter clinical use by 2030.