Artificially engineered red blood cells for universal blood transfusion

Abstract

Artificially engineered red blood cells with immunological inertia are promising candidates for universal blood transfusions, eliminating the need to consider blood types. Their unique resilience is particularly beneficial for mismatched blood transfusions. A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America by Lei et al. introduced a cell silicification strategy designed to shield the blood group antigens of red blood cells, protecting them from external stressors. This approach supports biocompatible allogeneic transfusions and mechanical perfusion. The silicified red blood cells exhibited significant potential for cross-species blood transfusion without triggering immune activation.