Japan's ‘no-match' artificial blood may end shortages
No blood group matching required, no infection risk, no expiry for months. Researchers in Japan have developed artificial blood that has the potential to end global blood shortage and transform how the world handles emergencies, especially in cases of mass casualties and rural surgeries.
The innovation comes from Professor Hiromi Sakai and his team at Nara Medical University, who have created stable, virus-free artificial red blood cells now undergoing clinical trials. If all goes according to plan, this breakthrough could be ready for real-world use by 2030.
A recent Lancet report showed India has one of the world's highest blood shortages, with lack of awareness, sub-par infrastructure and a chronic shortage of donors worsening the crisis.
So, the idea of a blood substitute could be life changing in such a scenario.
What is artificial blood?
It isn't a full replica of human blood as it doesn't have white blood cells or platelets. But it does what's most vital in an emergency — carry oxygen. These lab-made blood cells mimic real ones, stay stable at room temperature, and are made using expired donated blood that would otherwise be discarded. 'They are also expected to respond to diseases and surgical procedures that cannot be treated by blood transfusions, and to unmet medical needs,' says Sakai's lab website.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Benefits of Trading Bitcoin CFDs
IC Markets
Learn More
Undo
The artificial red blood cells were developed by putting purified haemoglobin into thin lipid-based structures, forming haemoglobin vesicles (HbVs). These vesicles are just 250 nanometres wide — small enough to flow through capillaries, just like natural red blood cells do.
Unlike the red colour of blood, these artificial cells have a purplish hue as they do not oxidise until used. HbVs don't have blood type and don't carry infection risks.
They are made from expired red blood cells, or even from animal or lab-sourced haemoglobin. In essence, it's a purified, shelf-stable oxygen delivery system — without complications of blood transfusions.
These lab-made cells are not a full replica of human blood as these don't have white blood cells or platelets. But they do what's most vital in an emergency — carry oxygen
Agencies
Is it better than the real thing?
Artificial blood (called NMU-HbV) offers several benefits over traditional blood donations. For starters, it rules out the need for compatibility testing, making it ideal for emergency situations. 'When a blood transfusion is urgently needed, some time is lost trying to determine the patient's blood type.
With the artificial red blood cells, there's no need to worry about blood types,' Sakai told Japan Times.
Also, the blood can be stored at room temperature for up to two years, far exceeding the short shelf life (around 42 days) of donated blood.
After completing successful safety tests in animals in early 2019, researchers began the first human trial in Oct 2020 at Hokkaido University. Healthy adult men were given 10ml, 50ml and 100 ml doses in three separate groups. Some participants had mild fever or discomfort from the injection, but those were short-lived. Blood tests, heart checks, and other health indicators were normal. The trial was approved by Japan's drug authority and the university's ethics committee.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scroll.in
an hour ago
- Scroll.in
Is population decline good for nature? Japan shows that may not be the case
Since 1970, 73% of global wildlife has been lost, while the world's population has doubled to 8 billion. Research shows this isn't a coincidence but that population growth is causing a catastrophic decline in biodiversity. Yet a turning point in human history is underway. According to UN projections, the number of people in 85 countries will be shrinking by 2050, mostly in Europe and Asia. By 2100, the human population is on course for global decline. Some say this will be good for the environment. In 2010, Japan became the first Asian country to begin depopulating. South Korea, China and Taiwan are following close behind. In 2014, Italy was the first in southern Europe, followed by Spain, Portugal and others. We call Japan and Italy 'depopulation vanguard countries' on account of their role as forerunners for understanding possible consequences in their regions. Given assumptions that depopulation could help deliver environmental restoration, we have been working with colleagues Yang Li and Taku Fujita to investigate whether Japan is experiencing what we have termed a biodiversity ' depopulation dividend ' or something else. Since 2003, hundreds of citizen scientists have been collecting biodiversity data for the Japanese government's Monitoring Sites 1,000 project. We used 1.5 million recorded species observations from 158 sites. These were in wooded, agricultural and peri-urban (transitional spaces on outskirts of cities) areas. We compared these observations against changes in local population, land use and surface temperature for periods of five to 20 years. Our study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, includes birds, butterflies, fireflies, frogs and 2,922 native and non-native plants. These landscapes have experienced the greatest depopulation since the 1990s. Due to the size of our database, choice of sites and the positioning of Japan as a depopulation vanguard for north-east Asia, this is one of the largest studies of its kind. Japan is not Chernobyl Biodiversity continued to decrease in most of the areas we studied, irrespective of population increase or decrease. Only where the population remains steady is biodiversity more stable. However, the population of these areas is ageing and will decline soon, bringing them in line with the areas already seeing biodiversity loss. Unlike in Chernobyl, where a sudden crisis caused an almost total evacuation which stimulated startling accounts of wildlife revival, Japan's population loss has developed gradually. Here, a mosaic pattern of changing land use emerges amid still-functioning communities. While most farmland remains under cultivation, some falls into disuse or abandonment, some is sold for urban development or transformed into intensively farmed landscapes. This prevents widespread natural succession of plant growth or afforestation (planting of new trees) that would enrich biodiversity. In these areas, humans are agents of ecosystem sustainability. Traditional farming and seasonal livelihood practices, such as flooding, planting and harvesting of rice fields, orchard and coppice management, and property upkeep, are important for maintaining biodiversity. So depopulation can be destructive to nature. Some species thrive, but these are often non-native ones that present other challenges, such as the drying and choking of formerly wet rice paddy fields by invasive grasses. Vacant and derelict buildings, underused infrastructure and socio-legal issues (such as complicated inheritance laws and land taxes, lack of local authority administrative capacity, and high demolition and disposal costs) all compound the problem. Even as the number of akiya (empty, disused or abandoned houses) increases to nearly 15% of the nation's housing stock, the construction of new dwellings continues remorselessly. In 2024, more than 790,000 were built, due partly to Japan's changing population distribution and household composition. Alongside these come roads, shopping malls, sports facilities, car parks and Japan's ubiquitous convenience stores. All in all, wildlife has less space and fewer niches to inhabit, despite there being fewer people. What can be done Data shows deepening depopulation in Japan and north-east Asia. Fertility rates remain low in most developed countries. Immigration provides only a short-term softer landing, as countries currently supplying migrants, such as Vietnam, are also on course for depopulation. Our research demonstrates that biodiversity recovery needs to be actively managed, especially in depopulating areas. Despite this there are only a few rewilding projects in Japan. To help these develop, local authorities could be given powers to convert disused land into locally managed community conservancies. Nature depletion is a systemic risk to global economic stability. Ecological risks, such as fish stock declines or deforestation, need better accountability from governments and corporations. Rather than spend on more infrastructure for an ever-dwindling population, for example, Japanese companies could invest in growing local natural forests for carbon credits. Depopulation is emerging as a 21st-century global megatrend. Handled well, depopulation could help reduce the world's most pressing environmental problems, including resource and energy use, emissions and waste, and nature conservation. But it needs to be actively managed for those opportunities to be realised.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
459 children test positive for Malaria in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada hostels, mostly asymptomatic but concerns remain
RAIPUR: A major public health scare has emerged in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, where 459 children staying in residential hostels were tested positive for malaria. The outbreak came to light after health authorities conducted malaria screening for around 4,900 students across several hostels. The findings have raised serious concerns about the living conditions in government-run hostels meant for tribal and underprivileged children. Despite the region being malaria-prone, the hostels reportedly lack basic mosquito nets, and no solid preventive arrangements have been made to protect students from mosquito bites. Dantewada chief medical health officer Ajay Ramteke said that health screenings of over 26,000 children has to be done at school and we have covered a total of 4,947 so far. 'Tests included checks for malaria, anaemia, body weight, and other vital indicators. Out of those tested, 459 children were found positive for malaria. All diagnosed children started receiving treatment on the same day following the test. Over 90 percent of the malaria-positive cases were asymptomatic, showing no visible signs of illness. Only about 10 percent reported symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or headaches. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo But we are being careful with all those found positive.' Parents and locals fear the situation could worsen if immediate containment measures are not implemented. 'There are no mosquito nets, no regular fumigation, and poor sanitation. The children are sleeping vulnerable and exposed,' a local health worker said on condition of anonymity. Speaking to TOI, Dantewada collector Kunal Dudhawat said, 'We want 100% medical check-ups across all schools in the district to identify if there's any child suffering with any disease. When tests happen at such a scale, cases would come to the fore. Since there were fatalities due to malaria last year, we have to ensure no child goes untested and untreated if found positive. Most of them are asymptomatic and are fine. ' The preventive measures that we are taking includes providing mosquito nets to all hostels, cleaning thoroughly the corners and accumulated water due to rains, and shielding windows with nets, collector said. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh health department claims to have intensified its efforts to eliminate malaria with the launch of the 12th phase of Malaria Mukt Chhattisgarh Abhiyan (Malaria-Free Chhattisgarh Campaign). According to official data, over 19,400 households have been reached so far, with 98,594 individuals tested for malaria. Out of these, 1,265 people tested positive and were immediately administered the first dose of antimalarial medication. A statement issued by govt stated that the most significant progress has been noted in the Bastar division, which was once a malaria hotspot, where the disease burden has dropped by 71% compared to 2015 . The state's Annual Parasite Index (API) — a key indicator in malaria surveillance—has also improved dramatically, falling from 27.40 to 7.11. Health workers have been asked to ensure nutritional support before administering the medicines to minimize side effects and ensure safe recovery. Each case was documented and tracked using treatment cards, strengthening patient monitoring and follow-up care. Dr Priyanka Shukla , Commissioner-cum-Director of the Health Department, highlighted that the campaign now places special emphasis on tackling asymptomatic cases, which are often left undetected but play a crucial role in the disease's spread. 'Our focus is to break the chain of transmission by reaching every infected individual, on time, every time,' she said. A critical pillar of this campaign has been community involvement. From Mitanins (community health workers) and Anganwadi workerstovillage panchayats and local NGOs, grassroots support has been essential. These stakeholders have helped not only with testing and treatment but also with community education, promoting mosquito net usage, cleanliness, and preventing water stagnation.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
How NEET failure led to Rolls-Royce and Rs 73 LPA for this 20-year-old. Who is Rithuparna KS? Check her educational qualifications
When Rithuparna KS missed out on a government medical seat after her NEET results, it felt like the end of a dream. What she didn't know then was that the rejection would reroute her towards something bigger — a job with Rolls-Royce 's Jet Engine Manufacturing Division, a jaw-dropping Rs 72.3 lakh package , and a future in aerospace innovation. All by the age of 20. Her educational qualifications Hailing from Koduru in Thirthahalli taluk, Karnataka, Rithuparna initially aspired to become a doctor. But when her NEET scores didn't fetch her a government seat, she turned to engineering — not by choice, but necessity. She secured admission to Sahyadri College of Engineering through CET in 2022 and enrolled in the BE course in robotics and automation. Though disappointed at first, she quickly shifted gears, determined to make the most of her unexpected path. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Data Science Data Science Management Project Management Public Policy MCA others Cybersecurity Leadership Operations Management healthcare Data Analytics Others Artificial Intelligence MBA Product Management Finance Healthcare Technology Design Thinking PGDM CXO Digital Marketing Degree Skills you'll gain: Strategic Data-Analysis, including Data Mining & Preparation Predictive Modeling & Advanced Clustering Techniques Machine Learning Concepts & Regression Analysis Cutting-edge applications of AI, like NLP & Generative AI Duration: 8 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Data Analysis & Interpretation Programming Proficiency Problem-Solving Skills Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT MSc in Data Science Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details From the first day of college, Rithuparna threw herself into learning, building, and innovating. Her first project — a robotics-based arecanut harvester and sprayer — won gold and silver medals at the Goa INEX competition. She collaborated with doctors to study robotic surgery, contributed to solid waste management tech with local officials, and even worked with a research team at NITK Surathkal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The Rolls-Royce chapter Driven by a burning desire to intern with a global firm, Rithuparna reached out to Rolls-Royce. The response was brutally honest. They questioned her qualifications and said she likely couldn't complete even one of their assigned tasks in a month. Instead of stepping back, Rithuparna asked for a chance — one task. She received a challenge with a one-month deadline. She finished it in a week. Impressed, Rolls-Royce sent her more assignments. Over the next eight months, she faced relentless challenges and tough interviews. Just when the dream seemed distant, she got her break: a pre-placement offer in December 2024. Midnight shifts, soaring rewards Since January 2025, she's been working from home — logging in from midnight to 6 am — while simultaneously managing her college coursework. Once she completes her seventh semester, she will relocate to Texas, USA, to join Rolls-Royce full-time. In April, her annual package was revised from Rs 39.6 lakh to a stunning Rs 72.3 lakh.
