When a patient suffers from a major brain injury or severe blood loss, doctors often use artificial blood to help the patient’s red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body and remove any carbon dioxide. Synthetic blood is a theoretical substitute for human blood, which as mentioned carries out the vital transportation of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Still, it is not a direct substitute for blood because it can not carry out secondary functions of blood like fighting infections. For this reason, artificial blood is also often referred to as oxygen therapeutic agents.
Artificial blood is preferred in the medical industry for multiple reasons. Human blood transfusions are very risky as there is always a risk of infections and the spread of diseases as well as the restriction that the donor’s blood type has to match that of the recipient. These hassles can be avoided with the use of artificial blood that can be freeze-dried and preserved for up to 2 years compared to human blood which can only last 48 hours if refrigerated. The increasing number of accidents and the need for blood not being fulfilled by the number of donors as well as Artificial blood’s ability to deliver oxygen faster in times of need further solidified its usage.
There are currently two main types of artificial blood, one based on perfluorocarbon (PFC) while the other is a hemoglobin-based product. Both types have no risk of infections and are capable of carrying more oxygen than regular blood, with hemoglobin-based products having the highest capacity. The only downside to these is that both have problems like insolubility in water or toxic compounds that require them to be mixed with other substances before being used. Because of such limitations, many companies are still in search of a better blood substitute that can perform all of the blood’s functions.
References:
Davis, Charles Patrick. “What Is Artificial Blood and Why Is It Used?” MedicineNet, MedicineNet, 17 July 2020, www.medicinenet.com/what_is_artificial_blood_and_why_is_it_used/drug-class.htm#what_is_artificial_blood_made_of.
Khan, Fahad, et al. “Artificial Blood: The History and Current Perspectives of Blood Substitutes.” Discoveries (Craiova, Romania), U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Mar. 2020, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7086064/#heading-561897f3f4c6745c83523948291ab98f.
Sarkar, Suman. “Artificial Blood.” Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine : Peer-Reviewed, Official Publication of Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2008, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2738310/#sec1-6.
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