Islamabad, June 3, 2025: In a major medical breakthrough, scientists in Japan have developed an artificial blood that could help solve global shortages, especially in emergencies where matching blood types quickly can be difficult.
Led by Hiromi Sakai at Nara Medical University, the research team has produced synthetic blood that works with any blood group, removing the need for compatibility tests.
This artificial blood is made by taking hemoglobin — the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen — from expired donor blood. The extracted hemoglobin is then sealed in a special coating to form virus-free artificial red blood cells. Because these cells don’t have a blood type, they can be given to any patient safely.
Another major benefit is their shelf life that is the artificial blood can last up to two years at room temperature or five years if kept cold, compared to only 42 days for regular donated blood.
Initial trials started in 2022, where 12 healthy male volunteers aged 20 to 50 were given controlled doses of the synthetic blood. The participants received up to 100 milliliters, and while a few reported mild side effects, no serious reactions were noted. Encouraged by these results, larger trials began this year in March, with doses ranging from 100 to 400 milliliters.
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If these trials continue to show no serious issues, the next phase will test how well the artificial blood performs in treating real medical conditions. The team aims to make the product available for hospitals by 2030.
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In a related effort, Professor Teruyuki Komatsu from Chuo University is also developing artificial oxygen carriers using albumin to help stabilize patients during strokes or heavy bleeding. Animal studies have shown promise, and researchers hope to start human testing soon.
This development marks a potential turning point in emergency and rural healthcare.
