by Cynthia Yildirim
Member since:
May 19, 2011

Artificial blood could soon be on the way

October 28, 2011 12:24 PM UTC
views: 0 | 5 people recommend this | comments: 16

(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at Edinburgh University in Scotland have announced that they believe the type of artificial blood they are working on could be ready for testing in humans in as little as two or three years. Made from growing stem cells taken from adult human bone marrow, the blood they create would be of the rare type “O-negative” that some 98% of people in need could use.

Read more here.

Comments: 16

Pamela Marks Oct 28, 2011, 1:10pm UTC
synthetic blood is not new at least from what my hemotologist says since I get the synthetic version when I get my blood infusions.
Dennis Gilman Oct 28, 2011, 3:17pm UTC
Hemoglobin Based Oxygen Carriers (HBOC) have been around for a while. Great stuff. Keeps indefinitely, needs no refrigeration. The other benefit is that they may use stale blood that would have been discarded as the source of the hemoglobin.
Pamela Marks Oct 28, 2011, 4:15pm UTC
the whole blood inhaler I use at home has to be kept between two exact temperatures or it will go bad so I hope they make this like it too no fridge would be good for me.
Dennis Gilman Oct 28, 2011, 4:40pm UTC
Check out this link:

Revolutionary 'blood' HBOC-201 saves Tamara Coakley

"Unlike donor blood it does not require matching and can be stored without refrigeration for up to three years"
Larry M. Oct 28, 2011, 1:34pm UTC
There are other potential kinds of artificial blood which would be acceptable to all types.
Dennis Gilman Oct 28, 2011, 3:20pm UTC
There are at least two gather post on them Larry, mine and an earlier on by Julia Bodeeb
Darin Waugh Oct 28, 2011, 2:22pm UTC
Very interesting!
Dennis Gilman Oct 28, 2011, 3:23pm UTC
HBOC-201 is already saving lives. It's made from bovine blood. There is at least one team working on a HBOC that uses recombinant hemoglobin as the source of the hemoglobin.

What you have posted is very new to me though. Many thanks.
Cynthia Yildirim Oct 28, 2011, 3:54pm UTC
Thanks for the insight Dennis.
Shannon R. Oct 28, 2011, 10:28pm UTC
Bovine blood? does that mean from cows? I'd worry about winding up with mad cow if I used blood from a cow. mad cow I believe doesnt show up until years later.
Dennis Gilman Oct 29, 2011, 9:15am UTC
I've been told that there is no such danger because they first separate and clean the red blood cells then extract and purify the hemoglobin, then make mico capsules each made of two molecules bound to each other in a protective covering. Those micro capsules act as red blood cells.
Joy Odom Oct 28, 2011, 3:37pm UTC
This is cool! great article
Clifford N. Oct 28, 2011, 5:27pm UTC
Humanity is making steady progress in many ways. Great News.
Kathryn Flynn Oct 29, 2011, 11:55am UTC
My oh my! Just like in the vampire novel I am reading. They also drink Bleer and Blardonnay.

Seriously, this is a goo advancement.
amy s. Oct 29, 2011, 12:33pm UTC
thank god they are finnaly able to invent real blood. no more blood drives soon. not like i could be in any in the first place i have bad blood
Dan H. Oct 30, 2011, 6:07pm UTC
It is becoming harder and harder to make sure we have enough blood products for our patients when they are in need.

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Business | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Giveaways | Health | Money | Moms | News | Politics | Sports | Style | Technology | Travel | Writing
Version 18247, "Zach"; Copyright © 2013 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.