The Next Step of Artificial Blood: Plastics

Artificial blood, or hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, has been a dream of the medical research community since the HIV scare of the 1980’s lead to fears that the blood supply was contaminated. Since then, despite all the money and research dedicated to artificial blood not much has been accomplished. While donor blood will always be the preferred treatment for the foreseeable future a potential breakthrough could lead to an approved blood substitute for use in war or natural disasters.

Chemists at the University of Sheffield have created a plastic structure that has been found to mimic the characteristics of hemoglobin. It is made of Polyethylene glycol (PEG) in a branched structure of similar size and shape to that of hemoglobin. The PEG also contains iron, necessary for the nonreactive binding of oxygen. Besides the ability to carry oxygen, the most important characteristic is that it can squeeze through the smallest of capillary vessels. Another important quality is the stability of the plastic blood. Donor blood can only be stored for 35 days and then has to be disposed of, it also requires expensive refrigeration. Plastic blood on the other hand is stable at room temperature and can be stored for more than 35 days. Plastic blood is also O-negative, a type that only 7% of the population has, which means that it can be successfully donated to over 98% of patients.

While this plastic blood would probably not be as good as donor blood it could save countless lives in a warzone or shortly after a natural disaster. Both of these events can lead to a severe strain on an already short supply of blood resources. Plastic blood could be carried in the packs of medics or first responders because of its stability at room temperature, and as an o-negative substitute it would eliminate the need to know a patient’s blood type. When push comes to shove plastic blood might be a whole lot more desirable than no blood. Also, in the case of another AID’s like blood supply scare plastic blood could be used as a stop gap in till a reliable screening method was selected.

While plastic blood is still years, and countless FDA hoops, away from seeing widespread clinical trials. One day this breakthrough creation could reduce the lives lost during a natural disaster or war, and could make many patients breathe easier knowing that their transfusion is not contaminated.

Sources:

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/Issues/2010/October/ArtificialBlood.asp
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/may/10/insideit.guardianweeklytechnologysection1
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070512113724.htm