Removes Iron from Red Blood Cells, Improving Blood Health
This blood preservation strategy improves the shelf-life and stability of red blood cell products by using chelators to remove iron. Human bodies produce over a trillion new blood cells every day to offset natural losses. However, clinical scenarios such as traumatic injury or massive hemorrhaging associated with combat service, surgery, childbirth, or cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatment require life-saving transfusion support to survive. According to the Red Cross, a patient requires blood or platelets every two seconds. However, from the moment donated blood and blood-derived cells are drawn, the clock starts ticking on their shelf life.
Traditional preservation methods extend red blood cell (RCB) shelf-life to just 42 days, but biochemical deterioration often begins earlier, jeopardizing the safety and effectiveness of transfusions. These changes are driven by oxidative stress and biochemical lesions that disrupt redox metabolism and lead to the release of toxic ions, accelerating hemolysis. In the United States Military, hemorrhaging remains the leading reported cause of preventable death. The ongoing blood shortage affects patients worldwide as clinics struggle to supply blood donations for therapeutic and surgical needs. As demand for safer, longer-lasting blood products grows, the market for advanced transfusion solutions is expanding. In 2022, the global blood transfusion diagnostics market was valued at $4.4 billion and is expected to reach $6.96 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.8%.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a preservation method for stabilizing red blood cells and reducing oxidative damage, with the goal of significantly extending shelf-life. This technology has the potential to minimize hemoglobin breakdown, prevent toxic ion buildup, and reduce the need to discard expired units, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Application
A preservation method for red blood cells for extending shelf-life, reducing degradation, and improving the reliability of blood products for transfusions in civilian and military healthcare systems
Advantages
- Uses chelators to remove iron and reduce oxidative stress, stabilizing red blood cells
- Increases blood product shelf-life and stability, preventing adverse effects in patients related to aging blood and reducing yearly wastage
- Reduces degradation and denaturation of red blood cells during storage, increasing shelf-life
Technology
This technology improves red blood cell storage by targeting iron-related oxidative stress with chelators. As blood ages, RBCs undergo oxidative damage that disrupts redox metabolism and leads to the release of toxic ions, accelerating hemolysis. In its early experimental phases, the technology applies bolus delivery of chelators to remove key ions and involves localized chelation via a cellulose dialysis membrane that permits ion entry but retains the chelators. This method aims to stabilize RBCs and reduce hemoglobin breakdown, ultimately supporting longer and safer blood storage.
Brochure
