A review of current methods and design of new methods in the synthesis of universal red blood cell

Abstract

Blood transfusion is a critical part of modern healthcare, the demand for blood in medical treatment has been increasing. However, blood supplies are dwindling primarily due to a greying population in many developed countries, mainly due to a more stringent criterion for blood donors, increasing number of tests for infectious diseases, social stigma and its perceived risks. The risks associated with blood transfusion are: 1) transfusion-associated acute lung injury (TRALI), a syndrome of acute respiratory distress; 2) acute immune hemolytic reaction, where the transfused blood does not match the blood type of the recipient and the erythrocytes were lysed as a result of an autoimmune response by the recipient; 3) viral and bacterial infections, such as hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Various options to reduce the reliance of donor blood include modification of the surface of the red blood cells, synthetic blood substitutes and cultured red blood cells (RBCs). This Project seeks to review and understand each option and limitations in clinical and operational practice, and also investigate the regulation of the ABO gene transcription and its potential applications in the manufacture of universal red blood cells.