No Substitute for Real Blood

Since 1998, bioengineers have been working to find a substitute for blood. Since there is a shortage of donor blood and there is a short shelf life of donated blood, a substitute for blood would be very useful in the medical world. All of the substitutes contained hemoglobin, so that the blood could successfully deliver oxygen to tissues and organs. This blood alternative has not been put into common clinical use, since it is still being researched and tested. Tests are showing that patients who receive the substitute have a higher risk of heart attacks and death. The problem appears to be that hemoglobin in blood alternatives captures nitric oxide. The nitric oxide molecules dilate blood vessels and keep blood platelets from getting sticky and clotting. Some argue that the statistics found are flawed since they include some models that were abandoned soon after they were put into trial. Until new statistics are generated, it appears the blood alternatives are not a good option for blood transfusions. Although research has stumbled upon some serious setbacks, research will continue. Hopefully engineers will find a substitute that is just as good as actual organic blood.

http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2008/428/1