A unique powder will replace the standard donated blood

It seems that University of Washington has solved the problem of storage of donated blood. The scientists have demonstrated an artificial blood as a powder. According to "Obozrevatel" this blood can be stored more longer time. The scientists have managed to create artificial red blood cells. They capture the oxygen well, and carry it throughout the body.

The artificial blood can be dried and freeze that is very convenient. This fact greatly facilitates the storage and transportation conditions (stored in special containers for intravenous injections, which are placed in the paramedics bags). The powder is rapidly converted into liquid by adding sterile water.

The size of artificial blood cell is only a fifth of normal blood cell. They are made from purified human hemoglobin proteins, placed into a synthetic polymer. It should be noted there were a lot of attempts to create artificial blood for a long time. However, positive results could not be achieved for several reasons. For example, an artificial blood is normally captured the oxygen in the lungs, but can not release it in other organs. The dried blood doesn’t have such problems.

Source: MEDdaily