Engineered Nanomaterials for Artificial Blood

Uncontrolled hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of death on the battlefield and for civilians under 45 years of age. Key to patient treatment is fluid resuscitation; however, the use of clear fluids can decrease both the clotting and oxygen-carrying capacity of blood, critically impairing patient recovery. This project will develop blood-like nanoparticles (BLNPs) which can be added to standard clear IV fluids to impart clotting and oxygen-carrying capacity without the need to transport and store whole blood, providing a transformative advance in medical capability. To do this, the Hammond and Olsen research groups will apply a combination of degradable biopolymers and protein-based materials to develop a three-part formulation including oxygen-carrying nanoparticles that mimic red blood cells, platelet-like nanoparticles that can responsively clot in wounds, and recombinant and peptide-based mimetics of fibrin that can replace the diluted blood proteins to restore clotting function. In all cases, nanomaterials will be engineered to function synergistically with natural blood, working to support and reinforce the body’s natural systems. As blood volume is naturally restored during healing, the materials will degrade away.