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Scientists Create Artificial Blood

Posted by Zonk on from the plastics-we're-in-you dept.

simm1701 wrote us with a BBC article link on a sort of artificial blood substitute being developed by an English university. The substance is light, can survive at room temperature, and keeps longer than real blood, allowing it to be used as a stand-in in emergency situations. "The new blood is made up of plastic molecules that have an iron atom at their core, like haemoglobin, that can carry oxygen through the body. The scientists said the artificial blood could be cheap to produce and they were looking for extra funding to develop a final prototype that would be suitable for biological testing ... A sample of the artificial blood prototype will be on display at the Science Museum in London from 22 May as part of an exhibition about the history of plastics."

8 of 225 comments (clear)

  1. Can I get it in green? by tod_baudais · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Can I get it in green?

  2. lasting effects? by Turn-X+Alphonse · · Score: 3, Insightful

    But what about introducing plastic to the blood stream? Surely the body is going to flip out and attack it, which isn't exactly helpful in an emergency situation.

    --
    I like muppets.
    1. Re:lasting effects? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      surely?

      Wow, it's a good thing the uniformed slashdot readers of the world who read a brief pop science summary thought of that one! I'm thinking, maybe...just maybe, the physicians and research scientists would have looked into that.

      Points to refute your comment:

      1) plastics can be extremely inert.
      2) The Immune response often takes several exposures to sensitize to foreign antigens.
      3) assuming mild allergic or immune attack in certain individuals, the therapeutic index on saving your life vs. potential issues down the road could easily be argued in favor of using the blood substitute.

      think man!

    2. Re:lasting effects? by SQLGuru · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Also, wouldn't it cause problems related to clotting and what not? Worst case, you get a plastic scab on a wound, but in reality, I would expect it to cause problems where you'd essentially become a hemophiliac because your blood could not coagulate. And doesn't the body already do "house cleaning" to eliminate blood periodically. What happens to all of that plastic that the body can't eliminate?

      Layne

  3. Re:Silicon by jayayeem · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The side effects of losing 3 liters of blood before I can get you to the hospital are already well known and likely to be worse than the side effects of artificial blood. The big news here is that it could be stored longer with less refrigeration, so I can carry it on my bus.

    --
    I metamoderate, therefore I am
  4. bad analogy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    silicon implants are messy when they rupture, but there is still no evidence at all they they cause systemic illnesses. Successful lawsuits do not determine science. Your point is still valid, but that is why studies are needed.

  5. Re:Silicon by Incadenza · · Score: 2, Insightful

    i would like to know the long term side effects of this.

    Yes, why switch to something new when we have a well-tested system, blood donations, that is totally free of long term side effects, and has always been 100% safe.

  6. Why is this news? by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 1, Insightful
    Soo... why is this news when there hasn't even been animal testing yet?

    I wonder why it's colored red, too. Is it just to make people feel better, or did all the iron atoms start to rust...