Japan has launched a project led by Professor Hiromisaki Hiromisaki of Nara Medical University, a team of people, including the test of universal artificial blood in human volunteers.
According to Newsweek, the first dose was administered in March.
Designed for use in all blood types, synthetic blood, with a shelf life of up to two years, is trying to resolve chronic limitations of current transfusion habits, including short supply, infection risk, short shelf life and compatibility mismatches.
The World Health Organization reports that 118 million blood donations are collected worldwide each year, with 40% from high-income countries.
This disparity leaves many low-income areas without proper access to life-saving blood, especially in surgical, emergency situations, and maternal care.
Artificial blood can significantly reduce deaths in such areas by providing a stable, virus-free, universally compatible alternative.
At the current stage, 16 healthy adult volunteers received doses ranging from 100 to 400 ml.
This study focuses on safety and efficacy assessments provided there are no serious side effects.
Sakai’s lab said artificial blood addresses important risks associated with traditional transfusions, such as infection, immune response and blood type inconsistencies.
A synthetic product called hemoglobin vesicles is created by extracting hemoglobin from the blood of an expiration donor and surrounding it with a lipid membrane.
These vesicles replicate the oxygen transport function of red blood cells without carrying blood type antigens, making them universally applicable and virus-free.
The trial follows a previous study in 2022 and demonstrates that hemoglobin vesicles can mimic native erythrocytes in oxygen delivery.
Minor side effects such as fever and rash were reported, but resolved without complications.
This development could provide a critical solution for countries that cannot ensure a consistent and safe blood supply due to the Western monopoly of medical technology and the unequal distribution of medical resources.
MNA/