Researchers create "plastic blood," immediately prank roommates

Researchers at Sheffield University have developed what they're calling "plastic blood" -- a synthetic blood substitute with the consistency of runny honey they say might be used on battlefields and in disaster areas within the next decade. The polymer blood mimics the structure of hemoglobin, the compound in real blood that transports oxygen around the body, but is only intended for short-term use until a real transfusion can be performed. That's still a huge improvement over carrying around real blood, especially since the plastic stuff can be handled and stored at room temperature and is completely sterile. The fake blood hasn't been tested on humans yet, and won't be until additional funding is secured to further refine the formula, but the potential impact of the idea is enormous -- our homemade zombie flicks are about to get way better.

[Via BBC]

[dugrichards @ May 11th 2007 9:44PM]

wow, way to not be serious about something that is amazing, silly article writer humanoid.

[csnoke @ May 11th 2007 10:21PM]

It is about time those lazy scientists gave me a reason to not feel bad about my complete lack of donating blood.

I mean seriously. I have to sit in a chair while they poke me in the arm with a needle.. and for what? To save the life of some chump soldier in Iraq? No thank you. I'll just sit here and watch TV.

Signed,
America

[Jon DunB @ May 11th 2007 11:54PM]

Right, cause people not giving blood enough is the only reason this is useful. Shut up.

[mentalsticks @ May 12th 2007 6:35AM]

Everybody who voted this down should look up the meaning of 'irony'.

[Lee Roy Brandon III @ May 11th 2007 10:35PM]

I know you say it's a polymer, but I can't help but wonder if it's edible - you know, like the polymers in some milkshakes. Not that I'd drink alot of it, but it would really freak out the Goth kids in my neighborhood...

[jimgirardi @ May 12th 2007 12:55AM]

What polymers are in milkshakes? Maybe if it were a diet one... the only thing wacky I know of in milkshakes is kaolinite which is a fine white clay (McDonalds!), but not a polymer.

[...Jan... @ May 11th 2007 10:35PM]

I saw something like this on 2057. Heh, and my friends thought it wasn't serious.
Anyway, this could really help. Like, how long until we can replace all our blood permanently? That way, if there's any blood related disease, we can just exchange.

[Tim @ May 14th 2007 8:00AM]

I'm not sure that's possible Jan. Sure, it would be great against blood disease, but I doubt it would be permanent, because the body creates new blood cells all the time.

[Mickey Jones @ May 11th 2007 10:40PM]

Perfect for plastic surgery.

[Adam J @ May 11th 2007 10:51PM]

Actually they have invented fake blood. it's milky white in colour and is supposed to be more efficient that our own Red Blood Cells (RBC). It's particles is also smaller than our RBC so is suitable for emergency treatment for people with atherosclerosis, clots, stroke and other stuff..and yes..it is stable at room temperature.

[Dave Z. @ May 11th 2007 10:59PM]

This could be decades away from approval. Look at the history of a current polymized blood substitute, Polyheme, made from donated blood. It has gone through 3 phases of testing since at least the 1990s.

[Sean @ May 12th 2007 12:09AM]

Anybody read John Scalzi?

Your blood has been replaced by Smartblood- A revolutionary system that increases oxygen carrying capacity four fold!

[Lee Roy Brandon III @ May 12th 2007 1:14AM]

That's what I was thinking of, thanks for the correction. Makes fine porcelain, too.

[eDave @ May 12th 2007 7:36AM]

I believe most Mcmilkshakes include a form of cellulose, which is a polysaccharide, and polysaccharaides are arguably polymers.

[Mickey Jones @ May 12th 2007 4:53PM]

OK, the cat's out of the bag. The "blood" and the milkshake are the same thing. It was discovered that the shake had many of the same properties as blood after an unfortunate transfusion mixup (don't ask but think "Scrubs").

[wheatman @ May 12th 2007 8:59AM]

OMG, you are so behind the times, Hemopure (www.biopure.com) is in Phase III FDA testing and the product has been used in South Africa, your only about 10 years behind on this one. Stick to tech and away from medical advancements.

[Emceay @ May 12th 2007 1:50PM]

OMG let them run the blog, mmkay?

[mentalsticks @ May 13th 2007 7:27AM]

what, no criticisms allowed?

[Emceay @ May 13th 2007 2:53PM]

Nah, it's just someone always bashes the article, but they'll be back tomorrow. If you don't like it, go read something else, but I actually enjoyed this article until negative nancy's comment.

[tsecam @ May 12th 2007 2:33PM]

actually a Canadian company had been working on synthetic blood a couple years ago, but went under when the Canadian government denied them a license to test on humans. They had it working with small animals.

[Jason Kethan @ May 13th 2007 1:06AM]

Any knowledge in regards to how this substance reacts when frozen? Does it still expand like water?