"Looking for Blood" Broadcast Subtitles May Disappear... Purple 'Artificial Blood' Released

Can Be Stored Long-Term for Up to 5 Years

For the first time in the world, "artificial blood" that can be administered to all blood types has been developed in Japan. It can be stored refrigerated for up to 5 years.

Blood that can be transfused to anyone regardless of blood type has been developed. If commercialized, it could help prevent blood shortages. The photo is not directly related. [Image source=Getty Images]

Recently, Japanese media such as Mainichi Broadcasting reported that Nara Medical University succeeded in artificially producing blood for transfusions. This artificial blood is made by artificially creating red blood cells that carry oxygen in the blood and has a purple color. This is because the hemoglobin, which normally gives red blood cells their red color, has been specially processed.

The research team extracted only the hemoglobin from blood that would otherwise have to be discarded due to expiration and encapsulated it by wrapping it in a lipid membrane. Professor Sakai Hiromizu stated, "By removing the red blood cell membrane during the hemoglobin production process, there are no blood type antigens," and added, "This could contribute to human health and welfare."

The biggest advantage is that it can be administered to anyone regardless of blood type. The preservation period is also longer than that of regular blood. It can be stored at room temperature for 2 years and refrigerated for up to 5 years. This is a groundbreaking advancement compared to existing blood, which could only be refrigerated for up to 4 weeks.

Since storage and transportation have become relatively easier, artificial blood is expected to be a great help to patients in remote island areas or underserved regions with insufficient medical systems. If artificial blood is stocked in local hospitals or medical helicopters, it can buy time to transport patients to large hospitals in life-threatening emergencies.

Artificial blood developed by a research team at Nara Prefectural Medical University.
[Photo by Nara Prefectural Medical University]

Japan is facing a blood shortage problem due to a decline in blood donations among young people and an aging society. According to the Osaka Red Cross, the number of blood donors aged 10 to 30 dropped by more than half from 311,585 in 1997 to 135,250 in 2021. The Red Cross analyzed, "If blood donations from the younger generation do not increase, the supply of blood for transfusions may become unsustainable."

Our country, also trapped in the quagmire of aging and low birth rates, is expected to face a blood shortage crisis by 2028. In 2022, the United States declared a national blood shortage crisis for the first time ever as the highly transmissible Omicron variant spread.

The research team plans to conduct clinical trials of artificial blood on 16 healthy individuals. The goal is to gradually increase the number of participants and commercialize it within 10 years.