Japanese scientists aiming to tackle risky blood transfusions with artificial blood

The artificial blood could be used in practice by 2030.

Clinical trials starting in Japan for universal artificial blood.

The study led by Hiromi Sakai at Nara Medical University plans to see if artificial blood, which could be used for all blood types and stored for two years, could help solve blood supply shortages – a universal problem.

It’s been reported that the artificial blood trials have been taking place in different parts of the world, including the US and the UK.

According to The World Health Organization, more than 118 million blood donations are collected yearly. Forty percent of those donations come from wealthy countries where 16% of the world's population live.

The numbers reveal an important problem: that blood transfusion treatment is still inaccessible in many parts of the world.

Universal artificial blood could help to solve this problem and prevent deaths that happen during injuries, surgeries, and childbirth.

Artificial blood trials have already started

The artificial blood trials started in March, when 16 volunteers at Nara Medical University were given 100 to 400 millilitres of artificial blood, reported Kyodo News via Newsweek.

The next step in the trial is to see how safe and efficient the treatment is, as well as seeing if the artificial blood doesn’t brings any side effects.

Sakai’s laboratory hopes that artificial blood could help solve issues such as infections, mismatched blood types, immunological responses, and more.

Artificial blood was created by taking expired blood, which should be older than three weeks, from a donor, extracting hemoglobin from it, and then placing it in a lipid shell.

These particles can imitate natural blood cells and carry oxygen. They also don’t have any blood type markers.

It’s been reported that trial participants did experience some side effects, including a rash or fever, but these issues were taken care of.

The university is planning to move from safety trials to broader studies, leading to clinical approval. The university intends to use artificial blood practically by 2030.