Red blood cells can be enhanced to improve wound healing
3D Media Sphere/Science Photo Library
Recent studies show that simple modifications to red blood cells, which transport oxygen in our bodies, can dramatically halt severe bleeding almost instantly. In trials on rats with severe liver injuries, modified blood led to the formation of clots within just five seconds, significantly reducing blood loss. This breakthrough raises hopes for its application in both scheduled and emergency surgical procedures.
Approximately 2 million individuals die globally from blood loss, and the risk escalates with each passing year of continued bleeding. In less severe cases, blood clots can form rapidly; however, critical situations often necessitate expensive blood transfusions, which can be challenging to administer urgently and may involve bandages that provoke immune responses, hindering healing processes.
Red blood cells not only carry oxygen but also aggregate with platelets, tiny cell fragments responsible for halting bleeding, to create a sticky mesh that seals injuries. Red blood cells constitute the majority of this plug, but due to their inherent fragility, Lee Jianyu and his colleagues from McGill University, Montreal, are striving to enhance their strength. “We recognized the elephant in the room,” he noted.
The researchers initially collected blood from rats, separating various cellular components. They then introduced chemicals that function like handles: one side binds to proteins on the red blood cell surface, while the other interacts with long-chain molecules that help bind the cells together.
The modified cells were then reintegrated into the liquid component of blood, known as plasma, and injected into the rats’ severe liver wounds. In stark contrast to untreated rats, which took 265 seconds to clot, treated rats began clotting in under 5 seconds, with only a minimal loss of 24 milligrams of blood compared to nearly 2,000 milligrams in the untreated group.
Unlike natural blood clots that dissolve within a few days, these modified clots remain intact for one to two months, offering extended time for wound healing processes to occur, as noted by Lee. Furthermore, the study did not present any safety concerns at this stage.
“This is a ground-breaking study demonstrating a novel approach to designing cell-based biomaterials for surgical and regenerative purposes,” commented Hyun Woo Yook, founder of SanaHeal, a Boston-based firm focused on bioadhesive technology.
Researchers aspire that in the future, a small sample of a patient’s blood could be collected before a planned surgical procedure and processed within just 30 minutes. In emergency scenarios, therapeutic drugs could be prepared from blood bank samples and stored at low temperatures for up to a month. However, Jayachandran Kizakkedatu, a researcher at the University of British Columbia, highlights that while current treatments can last long, cellular materials like these face a considerable challenge with a limited shelf life compared to synthetic alternatives.
Lee mentioned that his team has applied for a patent and is planning further research to explore these promising findings.
Topic:
Source: www.newscientist.com
