Japan has the world's highest level blood donation and transfusion system, but the shelf life of red blood cells is as short as 3 weeks, so if a large number of injured people occur in a short time such as a large-scale disaster, there may be a shortage of blood for transfusion. There is sex.Currently, 85% of blood products for blood transfusion are used in patients aged 50 and over in Japan, and when the population of blood donors (young people) decreases due to the declining birthrate and aging population, it will be 2027 annually in 89. It is predicted that there will be a shortage of blood for 8 people.Against this background, the realization of an artificial oxygen carrier that can be used by anyone at any time regardless of blood type is strongly desired. Announced that it has succeeded in formulating an oxygen carrier (formation name: HemoAct ™).

 Until now, modified hemoglobin preparations that chemically modify hemoglobin, an oxygen transport protein in erythrocytes, have been synthesized mainly in Europe and the United States.However, problems such as uneven structure and side effects (increased blood pressure) cannot be solved, and there is no approved drug as of April 2015.The research group conducted animal experiments in collaboration with the Keio University School of Medicine, Sojo University School of Pharmacy, and Kumamoto University School of Pharmacy, and found that Hemoact ™ had problems with conventional hemoglobin preparations, including side effects such as increased blood pressure. We have demonstrated that it is a highly safe formulation that does not have any.

 Establishing a system in which artificial red blood cells that can be stored for a long period of time are kept in a bag or as powder and can supply the required amount to patients in an emergency is an ideal form for medical practice in the near future.Hemoact ™ has a wide range of uses and fields of use, and is expected to be useful not only for emergency medical care, but also for the treatment of cerebral infarction and the storage of transplanted organs.If it is put into practical use, it is expected to have a global market.

Source:[Chuo University] Developed artificial blood that can be used when a large amount of blood transfusion is required due to a disaster, etc.

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