A SYNTHETIC BLOOD SUBSTITUTE: OXYCYTE

Every year thousands of people donate blood in the hope that they can help someone in need. Yet despite the number of people who donate every day, there is always a demand for more. Blood substitutes pose a solution to this problem.
Blood substitutes are scientifically engineered blood, which are sometimes referred to more specifically as 'oxygen therapeutics'. Like the red blood cells produced by our body naturally, blood substitutes can carry oxygen from the lungs around to the rest of the body. After a billion dollars of research into synthetic blood, scientist now have a better understanding of both natural and engineered red blood cells. It is understood that while red blood cells carry nutrients and vitamins alongside their oxygen load, synthetic blood substitutes are only able to carry oxygen; however, it is a task which they complete with the upmost efficiency. Indeed researchers claim that the blood substitute is up to 50 times more efficient at carrying oxygen than our own blood.
Currently, the most advanced product has been engineered by Oxygen Biotheraputics, who have named it Oxycyte. Oxycyte is made from perfluorcarbons or PFCs, a substance similar to the teflon coating used on frying pans. PCFs can carry oxygen so efficiently because they have the highest gas-dissolving ability of any liquid.
The advantages of a product such as Oxycyte are endless, with some even claiming that the substitute could be a better option than real blood transfusions. Unlike normal blood donations, Oxycyte does not have a specific type, and therefore can be given to anyone regardless of blood type. It does not need to be kept at a regulated temperature and can be stored for long periods of time. Because of this, Oxycte presents a revolutionary improvement in military medical procedures. In addition, many religious cultures that have previously refused blood transfusions because of their beliefs have accepted blood substitutes as an alternative because it is not of human origin.
As a medical tool, the most appealing characteristic of Oxycyte is its size. Red blood cells are comparatively large in relation to the blood vessels that they squeeze through, and this can cause blockages. Synthetic blood is far smaller and is able to get through blocked up veins and arteries to deliver its precious supply of oxygen to where it is most needed. This means that it could be a lifesaving factor when dealing with patients who have collapsed veins or traumatic head injuries, where oxygen needs to delivered fast.
The Oxygen Biotheraputics organisation has clinical trials for it blood substitute, Oxycyte, set to begin in mid 2009, making this scientific dream a reality. These trials will be held in Switzerland and Israel with six treatment sites in each country testing the efficiency of Oxycyte in patients suffering from traumatic brain injury. If these tests are a success, then Oxycyte could become used in hospitals within the next decade, saving patients lives worldwide.

by Rachel Madden · s4206762 · BIOL1020 · Monday AM · Sara Kaynes

Links
http://www.sybd.com/pages/Products.html
http://www.popsci.com.au/scitech/article/2006-11/better-blood
http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/story/65-beyond_blood.html