Artificial blood is an emulsion of an oxygen carrying compound, a colloidal substance, plasma expander, electrolytes and a few other buffer compounds. The huge demand for human blood for patient care has led researchers to develop artificial blood. The research (which dates back to the Fifties) is focussed on human recombinant haemoglobin and perfluorocarbons. The artificial haemoglobin rHb 1.1 has oxygen binding characteristics similar to that of HbA in red blood cells. Using recombinant DNA technology rHb 1.1 can be produced in required quantities. Perflurocarbons also dissolve a greater amount of oxygen than RBCs. Its solubility for carbon dioxide is three times that for oxygen. These blood substitutes have different boiling points, molecular structures and gas solubilities. Once they are used up, they form colourless, odourless and stable compounds which can be safely expelled. |
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