Producing artificial blood from stem cells

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh and Bristol (UK) have created artificial blood from stem cells. Artificial blood may be tested on humans within the next 2 years. In this theory, an embryo can provide enough blood supply cells for the whole of England.

Scientists hope that artificial blood can be produced on an industrial scale, helping to overcome anemia that is very common in many hospitals around the world. Artificial blood has the advantage of not being infected with germs and can be transmitted to all blood groups.

Artificial blood will be tested on humans within the next 2 years.

According to Daily Mail , the research team at the University of Edinburgh and Bristol (UK) has for the first time created thousands of millions of red blood cells from stem cells in the spinal cord. However, blood used for infusion requires up to 2.5 trillion red blood cells. Therefore, the number of red blood cells that scientists create is not enough to test on humans.

In theory, embryonic stem cells can multiply in large numbers, but so far the team has not yet produced the necessary number of red blood cells. If this theory is realized, just one embryo can supply enough cells to produce blood for the whole UK.

Dr. Marc Turner, of the University of Edinburgh, predicts that within two to three years, his team will be ready to experiment with injecting artificial blood into volunteers. After that, a large-scale test will be conducted. Artificial blood can be produced and widely used within a decade.

Artificial blood will also bring many benefits to developing countries. Thousands of women in these countries die each year from haemorrhage after childbirth. These women can be saved if they receive blood transfusions promptly.

Even so, research on artificial blood production has been opposed by some scientists. They argue that using embryonic stem cells to serve scientific research is an inhumane job.