Researchers Engineer Stronger and Faster Synthetic Blood Clots

Researchers have developed a technique called “click-clotting” that uses red blood cell (RBC) surface proteins to create cytogels that mechanically integrate with RBCs to form an engineered biocompatible clot that is approximately 13 times more resistant to fracturing and four times more adhesive than natural blood clots.

The research, a summary of which was published recently in the journal Nature, offers the potential to reduce severe hemorrhage and support patients with clotting disorders.

“Natural blood clots can be slow to form and mechanically fragile, which limits their ability to stop severe bleeding and can compromise healing,” senior author Jianyu Li, PhD, said in a press release from McGill University in Montreal. “Our work shows that, when engineered appropriately, RBCs can play a central structural role, enabling the design of stronger and more functional biomaterials.” Li is a professor of mechanical engineering and research chair in tissue repair and regeneration at McGill.

The technology can be used to form both autologous and allogeneic clots. According to Li, autologous clots can be prepared in approximately 20 minutes, and allogeneic clots can be prepared within about 10 minutes. “Given typical clinical time constraints, this approach has strong potential for in-patient emergency care, wound management and related settings,” Li said.

According to investigators, the new technique could help overcome natural limitations of native blood clots, including weakness and speed of formation. The authors noted that “these constraints limit their hemostatic performance under severe hemorrhage.”

Investigators confirmed the results through in vitro testing, along with testing on rodents, but they noted that further research is necessary before the cytogel can be used in clinical settings.