Experts Study Cross-Species Blood Transfusion, Testing from Humans to Mice

Researchers from China have discovered a new technology that allows cross-species blood transfusions. The need for blood is one of the problems in the medical world, so researchers continue to look for ways that allow doctors to save more lives.

One of the new breakthroughs produced by the researchers is creating a very small silicone coat for the transfused blood cells to wear.

The new nanotechnology allows biomedical engineer Chuanyi Lei from the South China University of Technology and his colleagues to transfuse blood between species. In their tests, the research team successfully transfused human blood cells coated with silicone into the bodies of mice.

“The silicified red blood cells not only escaped immune activation in different species, but also functioned well for oxygen transport,” the team wrote in their paper.

The presence of a silicone layer for blood cells covers surface proteins. This protein is used by the body to recognize blood types.

With silicone, it is possible for different blood types to be used safely, including blood from other species.

In tests, the team successfully transfused these silicone-coated human blood cells into mice. So far, the silicone-coated cells have functioned like regular red blood cells.

The researchers say the blood membranes remain intact, they can still float through the blood plasma, produce cellular fuel as usual, and carry vital oxygen to where it is needed.

“The silicate-coated blood retains all the essential functions of red blood cells, has superior mechanical properties, is resistant to adverse environmental conditions, can be stored for long periods, and is highly effective in preventing immune system activation,” the team explains.

The researchers are also looking at ways to reduce blood use by providing an alternative fluid for storing donor organs.

Pumping blood artificially through these organs keeps them alive long enough to be transplanted, but it uses a lot of blood.

The silicone-coated strategy could allow humans to tap into animal sources instead of the limited supply of human blood.

In this study, Lei and his colleagues successfully transplanted a liver into a mouse using this modified blood system.

“These results show the great potential of silicate red blood cells as a safe and efficient transfusion alternative that effectively meets the growing clinical need,” the researchers said.

However, this new blood technology is still in its infancy, so there are still many challenges before it can be confirmed as safe for humans.

Currently, a number of factors make blood shortages a major problem, one of which is in the United States (US). In this country, the problem is partly due to changes in policies to protect donors.

Blood donations are also at their lowest point in the last 20 years.

“Someone needs life-saving blood every two seconds in our country – and the availability of blood can be the difference between life and death,” said Pampee Young, chief medical officer of the American Red Cross in January, as quoted by Science Alert.

“One of the most heartbreaking situations for a physician is when the hospital is full of patients and the refrigerator is empty of blood products,” she added.