How is it possible that cold-blooded fish such as cod can live in Arctic waters without just freezing solid? As it turns out, they've got proteins in their bloodstream that act as a sort of antifreeze. British scientists have now copied the fashion in which those proteins work, to create a process by which donated human blood could be frozen for storage, then quickly made available for transfusion.
Although it is already possible to store blood cryogenically, it requires the addition of an organic solvent in as high as a 1:1 ratio, before the freezing occurs. What's more, that solvent must be removed from the blood once thawed, in a process that can take up to several days. In emergencies, there typically aren't several days to spare.
As an alternative to such solvents, researchers at the University of Warwick are instead looking to polyvinyl alcohol. The synthetic polymer functions like the cod's antifreeze, and is derived from wood glue.
Like the solvents, it keeps cell-rupturing ice crystals from forming as the blood thaws. Unlike the solvents, however, it can stay in the blood without causing any harm. This means that as soon as the blood is thawed, it's ready to go.
Additionally, less of it is required – about 0.1 percent of the volume of the blood.
The university is now working on commercializing the technology, which could conceivably also find use in cell-based therapies and research projects. A paper on the scientists' findings was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.
Source: University of Warwick
After poring over records, medical researchers found that many transfusions were unnecessary and may have inhibited the healing process. The American Medical Association said in 2012 that blood transfusions were one of the top five most overused medical treatments.
"While blood transfusions can be life saving, they also carry risks that range from mild complications to death," said the AMA report, which also included heart stents and antibiotics in the overuse category.
Cindy Kuehn, administrative director of laboratories at Orlando Regional Medical Center, said her medical complex has been cutting back for three years. The operation has reduced transfusions by 9 percent this year versus last, she said.
"They're just finding overwhelming evidence that patients do better [without transfusions]," Kuehn said."