Donate Blood, Save a Life!1. Lifespan. "New Preservative Increases Shelf Life Of Blood Platelets, Decreases Risk Of Harmful Reactions.

" ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 1 June 2006. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/060601093034.htm>.

2. Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas (CNIO). "Scientists discover a new blood platelet formation mechanism.“

ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 January 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150126124727.htm>.

3. Ohio State University Medical Center. "Bioreactors Might Solve Blood-platelet Supply Problems.

" ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 December 2008. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081223091314.htm>.

4. University of California - Santa Barbara. "Synthetic blood platelets developed." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 May 2012.

<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120530133738.htm>.

5. Blood Centers of the Pacific website: http://www.bloodcenters.org/blood-donation/

6. Red Cross: http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-facts-and-statistics

7. Image courtesy:

http://intranet.tdmu.edu.ua/data/kafedra/internal/normal_phiz/classes_stud/en/pharm/prov_pharm/1%20course/3%

20Cycle%20Physiology%20of%20blood/01.%20Physiology%20of%20blood%20system.htm

References

BLOOD PLATELET THERAPEUTICSDaniel Goodman

Facts and Statistics

Inadequate inventories of platelets due to their short shelf life and highly unpredictable demand effect both those with chronic conditions and those in sudden traumas and greatly limits blood centers' ability to provide platelets for essential transfusions [1]. The concentrates from volunteer donors are expensive to make, require 10 or more tests for pathogens and have a shelf life of only five days. As a result, 20 to 40 percent of platelet concentrates are discarded. Red blood cells, by contrast, last 56 days [3].

Those suffering from cancer, hemophilia, sickle cell and thrombocytopenia, a disease characterized by a lower platelet level than normal, can require frequent blood transfusions during treatment. Immune system responses have been issues with platelet transfusions [4]. Thrombocytopenia patients usually suffer uncontrolled bleeding, hemorrhages, and even death. The illnesses incidence increases exponentially in patients undergoing chemotherapy [2].

Overview

Developing solutions to our dependency on volunteer blood donors to meet a highly unpredictable demand, to discarding 20-40% of expensive to make platelet concentrates because of a short shelf life and to blood diseases characterized by low platelet levels are vital to helping save the lives of the growing number of people with chronic conditions and those in sudden traumas. This area is important to me as I am a regular blood donor and have donated platelets more than 100 times in my life. While I may not currently have surplus money or free time to donate to good causes, I see my blood as a renewable resource I can give to help others. Others like Donovan Ho, whose heart failed in 2010 when he was 17-years-old, and his heart-transplant required transfusion of product from 72 platelet donations. I was one of the donors whose platelets were used to keep him alive, and I had the honor of meeting him and seeing concretely the life saving power of donating blood.

Conclusion

Muench Lab, Blood Systems Research Institute San Francisco, CA•Studies how room temperature stored versus cold stored (4 C) platelets and donor

variability effect the regulation of vascular endothelial cell (EC) integrity. Additionally, how UV light and riboflavin treated pathogen reduced platelets can eliminate the immunogenicity and block alloimmunization/rejection of solid organ transplants.

Grifols Inc., Emeryville, CA•Manufacturer of human plasma derived injectable protein therapies and

pharmaceuticals.

Passegue Lab, University of California, San Francisco•Studies differentiation of hematopoietic, or “blood-making”, stem cells and how

deregulation of key steps gives rise to hematopoietic cancer stem cells that drive the development and progression of leukemia.

Local Research Projects

Platelets are the component of whole blood that control bleeding and prevent life-threatening hemorrhages. Patients undergoing an organ and bone marrow transplant, cardiac surgery, chemotherapy, radiation treatment often require platelet transfusions

[1].

Introduction

A pint of blood, separated in to components, can help up to three people, and there’s currently no substitute for human blood [5].

About 13 million platelet concentrates are collected annually in the United States at a cost of about $1 billion [3].

It is estimated that sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. who can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives [6].

More than 1.68 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2016. Many will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment [6].

INCREASING PLATELET SHELF LIFE• Platelets derived from whole blood donations (1st: stored in plasma, 2nd: stored in artificial preservative) were both found to retain their quality for seven days and met the current FDA requirements and the more stringent European requirements for therapeutic use. Importantly, the platelets in the preservative had extremely low plasma levels, which reduces the chance of platelet spoilage. The artificial preservative tested was unique because it contained glucose, which seems to be a key component in extending the shelf life of platelets. The preservative also contained sodium acetate and sodium bicarbonate, which protected the platelets from exposure to low pH levels [1].

CURE FOR THROMBOCYTOPENIA • It was found that the cells that give rise to platelets, megakaryocytes, can be reprogrammed artificially into platelets to rebuild their levels in the blood. This analysis revealed that cells deficient in Cdk1 [a key protein for the process] underwent cellular reprogramming towards a process known as 'endocycles', which allows megakaryocytes to increase in size in a different manner than normal. A result of cell plasticity responding to different stress situations. Reprogramming the cell cycle towards endocycles could correct the thrombocytopenia [2].

GROWING PLATELETS IN A BIOREACTOR • Isolated hematopoietic stem cells, which produce blood cells, were added to bioreactors [chambers with several layers for gas and growth-media control] with a solution of growth factors to stimulate the cells to form large, bone-marrow cells called megakaryocytes, which shed bits of themselves as platelets [3]. The three-dimensional bioreactor produced up to 1.2 million platelets per day, with production continuing for more than 32 days, while the two-dimensional system (Cell Culture flasks) generated a maximum of about 350,000 platelets per day over a ten-day period [3].

SYNTHETIC PLATELETS• Polymeric particles can mimic the size, shape, and surface functionality of natural platelets, but are orders of magnitude more rigid than platelets [4]. To solve the problem of flexibility, a polymeric "template" -- a core upon which layers of proteins and polyelectrolytes were deposited, layered, and crosslinked to create a stable synthetic platelet-shaped particle. The rigid polymeric core was then dissolved to give the particle the desired flexibility. The particle was then coated with proteins found on the surface of activated natural platelets or damaged blood vessels. These synthetic platelets may be used to not only perform the typical functions of human platelets; but may also be used to carry imaging agents to identify damaged blood vessels or to deliver drugs that dissolve blood clots [4].

Latest Findings

Components of Blood

Formed Elements suspended in plasma:

Red Blood Cells (erythrocytes) = carry oxygen & collect carbon dioxide. 99% of cells in the bloodLeukocytes (white blood cells) = immune system Platelets = cell fragments, form blood clots, source of growth factors

Blood Proteins:

Albumin = used to replace lost fluid and help restore blood volume in trauma

Immunoglobins (antibodies) = immune function. Most important and most widely consumed plasma proteins. Grifols in 2015 received first and only FDA approval to markets intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the US

Fibrinogen = blood coagulation