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Scientists in Britain create artificial blood
May 12, 2007 - 11:57:14 AM
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'This product can be stored a lot more easily than blood, meaning large quantities could be carried easily by ambulances and the armed forces.'
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By IANS,
[RxPG] London, May 12 - Scientists in Britain have developed an artificial plastic blood, which they claim could act as a substitute, easier to store and could be a huge advantage in war zones.
The new artificial blood is made up of plastic molecules that have an iron atom at their core, like haemoglobin, that can carry oxygen through the body.
The researchers say they were looking for extra funding to develop a final prototype that would be suitable for biological testing, according to BBC News.
'We are very excited about the potential for this product and about the fact that this could save lives, said Lance Twyman of the university's Department of Chemistry.
'Many people die from superficial wounds when they are trapped in an accident or are injured in the battlefield and can't get blood before they get to hospital.
'This product can be stored a lot more easily than blood, meaning large quantities could be carried easily by ambulances and the armed forces.'
A sample of the artificial blood prototype will be on display at the Science Museum in London from May 22 as part of an exhibition about the history of plastics.
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