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Original air date:
10.31.07
Developing Blood Substitutes
Doctors predict that by the year 2030, U.S. medical clinics will suffer from a total shortage of four million units of blood, leaving scores of patients without the blood transfusions they desperately need. Luckily, a handful of companies are doing all they can to get around the problem — by developing blood substitutes.
The idea of synthetic blood is not a new one. McGill University's Thomas Chang began researching ways to make artificial blood cells back in 1956, but only recently have these products — often referred to as "oxygen therapeutics," because since their main role is to deliver oxygen throughout the body — been shown to be truly safe.
Today, there are two vastly different approaches to oxygen therapeutics. One utilizes tiny Teflon-like molecules, which efficiently "grab" and hold onto oxygen, while the other relies on hemoglobin itself, the oxygen-carrying molecule that lives inside red blood cells. Both approaches, while vastly different, have performed well in small clinical trials — the question, of course, is whether they prove safe enough for FDA approval.
Oxygen therapeutics are not only exciting in that they could circumvent a future blood shortage; they could also in some cases, be a better treatment option than blood. Because the substitutes so efficiently carry and deliver oxygen, they are ideal for treating certain trauma patients, who often require large amounts of blood delivered to the brain. And since some of the therapeutics have longer shelf lives than blood — and don't have to be refrigerated — they are perfect for military applications and for treating patients who are far from a hospital.
Indeed, while we'll never be able to do away with blood,-—and why would we want to?-—oxygen therapeutics could one day treat a whole host of patients in many difficult situations. Check out our TV segment Blood Simple to learn more about how these therapeutics can help trauma victims, and take a look at our online feature, Beyond Blood, which investigates other ways in which oxygen therapeutics could save lives. It's all here for you on WIRED Science.
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10.31.07 6:12 PM PDT
Victor Smith
Has there been any progress toward developing techniques for cloning blood?
10.31.07 6:23 PM PDT
Dianna Gourley
I am watching your show now. I find it very informative and educational. Thank you, I will keep watching.
11.1.07 9:42 AM PDT
Louise Hecker
Is this artificial blood available for other research purposes? Is it available for purchase?
11.1.07 5:55 PM PDT
J-Web
sounds like ticker ALLP might soon see some positive action
11.2.07 10:34 AM PDT
Sean McGee
Other research has shown that most of the time blood transfusions are not even needed.
Patients that receive non-blood alternatives also have a faster recovery time.
11.4.07 9:17 AM PST
J. Alvarez
This is going to be an amazing medical advance! It is going to save lives, and will also prevent dibilitation of lives! The ticker for this company is SYBD, just in case anyone wants to jump on the band wagon. 12 cents!
Has there been any progress toward developing techniques for cloning blood?
None that I would deem significant.
Is this artificial blood available for other research purposes? Is it available for purchase?
it has many other potential purposes. no not for purchase.
sounds like ticker ALLP might soon see some positive action
this is the incorrect ticker, the ticker is SYBD for Synthetic Blood Intl. Inc. the maker of Oxycyte the most advance theraputic oxygen carrier
Other research has shown that most of the time blood transfusions are not even needed.
This is a misinformed statement.
Patients that receive non-blood alternatives also have a faster recovery time.
Very true.
11.6.07 7:22 PM PST
Josh
As a ER trauma RN for several years, I can see SEVERAL uses for this product!! I hope it gets on the market SOON!!!!
12.20.07 6:20 AM PST
Greg
I understand this may help in TBI cases please any research my my daughter and i be involved in.
5.14.09 10:52 AM PDT
John Bigdick
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