Graphical summary. Credit score: Cryobiology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2025.105295
A transformative new methodology for freezing human crimson blood cells has been developed by researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Leeds.
The method, created with business companions CryoLogyx, has the potential to revolutionize how blood is saved and delivered in emergencies, distant areas, and navy operations.
Led by Dr. Fraser Macrae from Leeds and Professor Matthew Gibson from Manchester, the analysis is revealed within the Cryobiology journal.
Relatively than utilizing conventional cryoprotective brokers—substances which defend cells by stopping ice, the crew developed a cocktail which features a new class of macromolecule which protects cells by stopping damaging ice from forming inside them, often called polyampholytes.
Beating the clock: Delivering on-demand blood
Pink blood cell transfusions are essential for treating trauma, anemia, and problems from chemotherapy or surgical procedure. Nevertheless, refrigerated crimson blood cells have a shelf lifetime of simply 42 days, creating logistical challenges for sustaining a dependable blood provide—particularly in disaster conditions or distant areas.
To permit blood to be banked for future use, cryopreservation (freezing) is an important know-how. Presently, glycerol is used as a cryoprotectant—a substance which protects the blood from chilly stress by stopping ice from forming throughout the cells. Nevertheless, it comes with a significant downside: a laborious and time-consuming thawing and washing course of that may take over an hour per unit of blood. This delay will be life-threatening in emergencies and complicates its use in, for instance, disaster or navy conditions.
The brand new methodology reported in the present day, addresses this washing velocity downside. By combining three cryoprotectants—polyampholytes (a sort of polymer), DMSO (a cryoprotectant usually used for stem cells), and trehalose (a sugar)—the researchers have developed a formulation (PaDT) that not solely preserves crimson blood cells successfully but additionally reduces the post-thaw washout time by over 50 minutes in comparison with glycerol.
“Our goal was to create a system that allows blood to be frozen and then used almost on demand, with PaDT, we’ve achieved that. It’s faster, simpler, and results in better recovery of healthy, functional red blood cells,” says Dr. Fraser Macrae, College of Leeds.
The way it works
The PaDT formulation leverages the distinctive properties of its three elements:
Polyampholytes: distinctive polymeric cryoprotectants which have many useful properties together with stopping ice forming inside cells.
DMSO: a permeating cryoprotectant that enters cells shortly changing water molecules, stopping ice from forming
Trehalose: a sugar present in extremophiles like tardigrades; trehalose protects cells from dehydration and stabilizes proteins and membranes.
Collectively, these brokers work to guard RBCs throughout freezing and permit for a simplified, low toxicity thawing course of.
This breakthrough has the potential to remodel emergency medication. With this new methodology, frozen blood may very well be stockpiled and quickly deployed in catastrophe zones, on the battlefield, or in rural hospitals—with out the necessity for fixed donations or advanced gear.
“Imagine a future where blood can be ‘on tap’, ready to transfuse asap to those who need it most. This technology brings us one step closer to that reality,” says Professor Matthew Gibson, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The College of Manchester.
The analysis crew is now exploring how this methodology will be built-in into automated programs for large-scale blood processing. They’re additionally investigating its potential for preserving different cell sorts, together with stem cells and platelets.
Extra info:
Thomas L.C. Palmer-Dench et al, In direction of blood on demand: Fast post-thaw isolation of crimson blood cells from multicomponent cryoprotectants, Cryobiology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2025.105295
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College of Manchester
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Blood on demand: New freezing methodology slashes thaw time for emergency blood transfusions (2025, September 4)
retrieved 4 September 2025
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