Nanotech For Red Blood Cells

Introduction

Japan plans to use nanotechnology to produce red blood corpuscles, which are in short supply for transfusions. Artificial red corpuscles, which will be based on samples of donated blood, will be almost the same as the real thing. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is entrusting this project to private companies with a view to putting artificially created corpuscles to practical use within the next several years. A red corpuscle contains proteins called hemoglobin. Plans call for isolating hemoglobin from donated blood and containing it in a lipid capsule.

The artificial corpuscle will measure just 200 nm in a diameter and will carry oxygen as the real corpuscles do. It will be made with substances that do not trigger a negative reaction in the body. The artificial corpuscle will be suitable for transfusions for patients of all blood types and will have a shelf life of up to two years. The total market for artificial red corpuscles in Japan, North America and Europe is expected to be worth an annual $ 1.2 billion in the near future.

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