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Is Artificial blood here??

admin 11:14 AM, 17 Jan, 2014


Last week scientists from Romania create artificial blood that could one day be used in humans without side effects. This blood contains water and salts along with a protein known as hemerythrin extracted from sea worms. These scientists from Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, hope it could end blood supply shortages. Dr. Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu added that it may lead to creation of “instant blood” that could be transported which can turn into artificial blood when water is added. Up until now, attempts to create artificial blood have failed because the fluid was unable to withstand the mechanical and chemical stresses placed on it. Dr. Silaghi-Dumitrescu, states that unlike hemoglobin, hemerythrin remains stable when exposed to this type of stress. So far the artificial blood has been tested on laboratory mice who did not experience any adverse side effects. Researchers hope to roll the artificial blood out in clinical trials within a year or two.