| NSF Org: |
TI Translational Impacts |
| Recipient: |
|
| Initial Amendment Date: | July 21, 2016 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | July 21, 2016 |
| Award Number: | 1644585 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Steven Konsek
TI Translational Impacts TIP Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships |
| Start Date: | August 1, 2016 |
| End Date: | January 31, 2017 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $50,000.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $50,000.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
|
| History of Investigator: |
|
| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1025 N BROADWAY MILWAUKEE WI US 53202-3109 (414)277-7300 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
|
| Primary Place of Performance: |
WI US 53202-3109 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
|
| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
|
| Parent UEI: |
|
| NSF Program(s): | I-Corps |
| Primary Program Source: |
|
| Program Reference Code(s): | |
| Program Element Code(s): |
|
| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.084 |
ABSTRACT
The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project addresses many of the concerns people may have with blood donation and transfusion, including ethical and religious reasons, as well as a number of supply chain related issues. According to the America Red Cross, approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S., which corresponds to a $1.5 billion annual market. Importantly, many of the risks associated with human blood can be mitigated or eliminated with an engineered product. Other issues include cost and availability of human blood and its processing, such as screening for infectious diseases or spot availability in the supply chain due to natural or other disasters. It is possible that an engineered blood product could become widely available throughout the world and be shipped in large quantities as and where needed, addressing significant supply chain issues. The widely available engineered product may also provide a more affordable alternative to human blood, driving down the costs of expensive human blood products. Lastly, the engineered blood product could also be made available for veterinary procedures where collection systems of animal products is limited.
This I-Corps project investigates the commercialization of an engineered red blood cell product, based on natural biopolymers, which mimics natural red blood cells both morphologically and functionally. A prototype has been developed by using a novel polymeric red-blood-cell-shaped hydrogel microcapsule to enclose hemoglobin, which is vastly different from other existing prototypes that exclusively focus on non-encapsulated hemoglobin. The prototype has been tested under physiological conditions, ensuring potential clinical applications. This engineered product is ultimately aimed at replacing human red blood cells for blood transfusion.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Statistics show that more than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day. All donated blood has to be tested for infectious diseases, which further increases costs and limits supplies. To overcome these shortcomings, the team aims to commercialize an oxygen therapeutics - a novel polymeric red-blood-cell-shaped hydrogel microcapsule loaded with hemoglobin that mimics natural red blood cells both morphologically and functionally. Technically, the team has achieved the production of an actual red-blood-cell sized carrier, which fully mimics the natural red blood cells, during the grant. The encapsulation efficiency of the hemoglobin, the oxygen carrier, was determined to be high (greater than 90%). A patent filling is currently ongoing with the submitted patent invention form.
Importantly, the team received hands-on, immersive learning from I-Corps about what it takes to successfully transfer knowledge into real products or processes that benefit society. The team conducted more than 100 interviews throughout the United States including the American Red Cross, numerous blood banks, paramedics and emergency management personnel. The team learned the blood transfusion ecosystem in the U.S.—not only how the blood is collected, tested, and distributed, but also what roles laboratories, insurance companies, DoD, Medicare/Medicaid and patients play. After this class, the most surprising item the team learned is that one of the more significant impacts of engineered blood is not saving lives but eliminating the entire time and cost of testing, logistics, and other safety procedures. Engineered blood may eliminate billions of dollars in these costs.
Due to the met needs and market, the team decided to continue the project by applying for additional funding to further develop the product and achieve eventual successful commercialization – which could potentially change the entire blood industry.
Last Modified: 03/05/2017
Modified by: Wujie Zhang
Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.
