Researchers at Nara Medical University in Japan, led by Hiromi Sakai, have engineered an artificial blood substitute that combines oxygen-carrying hemoglobin from expired donor units with a protective lipid shell—eliminating blood type antigens and enabling universal compatibility.
This innovation not only removes the need for blood-type matching but also offers impressive storage life: up to two years at room temperature and five years under refrigeration, significantly surpassing the 42-day shelf life of standard donated red blood cells .
Initial human trials, which began in 2022, saw healthy volunteers safely receive increasing doses of the hemoglobin vesicle infusion without major side effects.
Following promising results—including stable vital signs at dosages of up to 100 milliliters—the ongoing trial now includes higher-dose administrations (100–400 mL) to assess safety and efficacy. If the remaining stages are successful, this artificial blood could revolutionize emergency care, particularly in remote and resource-constrained settings, with clinical deployment targeted by around 2030 .
Source: Tokyo Weekender
