Medical Revolution: Japan’s New Artificial Purple Blood Can Be Given To Anyone | World News

Medical Revolution: Japan’s New Artificial Purple Blood Can Be Given To Anyone | World News

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Japan has developed universal artificial blood that works for all blood types, is virus-free, and has a long shelf life; marking a groundbreaking shift in medical science

Unlike natural red blood, HbVs have a distinctive purple hue and can be produced from expired donated blood, reducing wastage while still ensuring effective oxygen delivery. (AI Generated/News18 Hindi)

The worldwide shortage of blood supplies has led to countless fatalities, but Japan’s breakthrough in developing artificial blood offers a potentially revolutionary answer. Known as haemoglobin vesicles (HbVs), this artificial blood is purple and possesses remarkable qualities. It functions like real blood by delivering oxygen throughout the body, thanks to its haemoglobin-based composition.

Encased within a nano-sized lipid membrane, these artificial red blood cells measure just 250 nanometres. Unlike natural red blood, HbVs are distinguished by their unique purple hue.

Universal Compatibility And Safety

A major advantage of HbVs is their universality. Since they lack blood group markers, they can be safely transfused into any individual regardless of blood type (A, B, AB, or O), eliminating the need for blood group matching.

Moreover, this artificial blood is free from viruses, posing no risk of infections such as HIV or hepatitis. It boasts an impressive shelf life of up to two years at room temperature, a significant improvement over the 42-day lifespan of natural blood.

HbVs can also be produced from expired donated blood, reducing wastage while still delivering effective oxygen transport.

Innovative Development And Production

Developed by Professor Hiromi Sakai and his team at Nara Medical University, Japan, the artificial blood is created through a unique process involving the extraction of haemoglobin from expired donated blood. This haemoglobin is then encapsulated within a nano-sized lipid membrane to ensure stability and functionality.

Advanced purification techniques are employed during production to guarantee safety.

Why HbVs Are A Game-Changer

  • Addressing Global Shortages: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 112 million units of blood are donated annually worldwide, yet demand still far exceeds supply. In emergencies such as surgeries, accidents, or childbirth, artificial blood could be life-saving due to its universal compatibility and potential for large-scale production.
  • Transportability: HbVs can be easily transported to remote locations, making them invaluable for military operations, disaster relief efforts, and mobile medical units.
  • Eliminating Blood Group Matching: The absence of blood group markers allows for faster medical decision-making and treatment.
  • Critical Medical Uses: Artificial blood is vital during heart surgeries, organ transplants, or cases of severe bleeding, as it can be readily available to save lives.
  • Virus-Free: Its virus-free nature makes it especially useful in regions where blood safety and purity are difficult to guarantee.

Testing And Future Prospects

Initial tests on mice showed that replacing up to 90% of their blood with HbVs maintained normal vital signs. Human trials commenced in 2020 with doses of 10ml, 50ml, and 100ml, progressing by 2025 to larger doses between 100ml and 400ml without serious side effects.

Mass production of artificial blood is expected to begin by 2030, with ambitions for global distribution. However, challenges remain in reducing production costs to make HbVs affordable for developing countries and obtaining regulatory approvals worldwide. Ongoing research is also needed to fully understand the long-term effects of artificial blood use.

A Future With Less Dependence On Blood Banks

If successful, Japan’s artificial blood could significantly reduce reliance on traditional blood banks, mitigating the problems caused by low donation rates and saving millions of lives, particularly in developing nations.

Its use in surgery, emergency care, and military medicine promises to improve the speed and efficacy of medical services worldwide.

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