Credit: Adapted from ACS Nano 2020, DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b08714
Scientists have tried to develop synthetic red blood cells that mimic the favorable properties of natural ones, such as flexibility, oxygen transport and long circulation times.
But so far, most artificial red blood cells have had one or a few, but not all, key features of the natural versions. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano have made synthetic red blood cells that have all of the cells’ natural abilities, plus a few new ones.
Red blood cells (RBCs) take up oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to the body’s tissues. These disk-shaped cells contain millions of molecules of hemoglobin –– an iron-containing protein that binds oxygen. RBCs are highly flexible, which allows them to squeeze through tiny capillaries and then bounce back to their former shape.
The cells also contain proteins on their surface that allow them to circulate through blood vessels for a long time without being gobbled up by immune cells. Wei Zhu, C. Jeffrey Brinker and colleagues wanted to make artificial RBCs that had similar properties to natural ones, but that could also perform new jobs such as therapeutic drug delivery, magnetic targeting and toxin detection.
The researchers made the synthetic cells by first coating donated human RBCs with a thin layer of silica. They layered positively and negatively charged polymers over the silica-RBCs, and then etched away the silica, producing flexible replicas. Finally, the team coated the surface of the replicas with natural RBC membranes. The artificial cells were similar in size, shape, charge and surface proteins to natural cells, and they could squeeze through model capillaries without losing their shape. In mice, the synthetic RBCs lasted for more than 48 hours, with no observable toxicity.
The researchers loaded the artificial cells with either hemoglobin, an anticancer drug, a toxin sensor or magnetic nanoparticles to demonstrate that they could carry cargoes. The team also showed that the new RBCs could act as decoys for a bacterial toxin. Future studies will explore the potential of the artificial cells in medical applications, such as cancer therapy and toxin biosensing, the researchers say.
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Synthetic red blood cells
- Artificial blood: Life saving science
We have traveled to Mars, made working artificial hearts, explored the deepest depths of the Mariana Trench, and sequenced the human genome, and yet, we haven’t been able to make artificial blood. Why ...
- 10 Signs of Vitamin B12 Deficiency That May Deceive You
Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays a critical role in helping the brain and nervous system function,” says Ashley Kitchens, RDN, of Plant Centered Nutrition. “It supports the ...
- Anavar for Men: Dosage, Side Effects, Cycle(Before And After Results)- Best Steroids For Bodybuilders
Enhanced Fat Loss and Body Recomposition: Besides its muscle-building effects, Anavar is known for promoting fat loss while preserving lean muscle tissue. This makes it an excellent choice for cutting ...
- Startup SelSym hopes to control bleeding with squishy synthetic platelets
SelSym's "biomaterials approach" to developing synthetic platelets appears to have paid off so far, with successful results in mice, rats and pigs. The preclinical studies will likely be part of an ...
- Cincinnati researchers observe the birth of blood cells in mice; find surprising results
“It might even allow to build artificial bones capable of producing red blood cells for transfusion.” ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Synthetic red blood cells
[google_news title=”” keyword=”synthetic red blood cells” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Artificial red blood cells
- Artificial blood: Life saving science
We have traveled to Mars, made working artificial hearts, explored the deepest depths of the Mariana Trench, and sequenced the human genome, and yet, we haven’t been able to make artificial blood. Why ...
- U.S. gives Samsung $6.4 billion to build chip factories in Texas
The subsidy is the latest wave of funding in the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to bring advanced computer chip-making capacity back to the U.S.
- Cincinnati researchers observe the birth of blood cells in mice; find surprising results
“It might even allow to build artificial bones capable of producing red blood cells for transfusion.” ...
- Skeleton-wide study of blood cell formation offers new ways to treat blood cancers, infections
"It might even allow to build artificial bones capable of producing red blood cells for transfusion," Lucas says.
- Skeleton-wide study of blood cell formation yields surprising findings
"It might even allow to build artificial bones capable of producing red blood cells for transfusion," Lucas says. About the study Achieving these findings required significant support from the Bio ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Artificial red blood cells
[google_news title=”” keyword=”artificial red blood cells” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]