The Chemistry of Lyophilized Blood Products

Abstract

With the development of new biologics and bioconjugates, storage and preservation have become more critical than ever before. Lyophilization is a method of cell and protein preservation by removing a solvent such as water from a substance followed by freezing. This technique has been used in the past and still holds promise for overcoming logistic challenges in safety net hospitals with limited blood banking resources, austere environments such as combat, and mass casualty situations where existing resources may be outstripped. This method allows for long-term storage and transport but requires the bioconjugation of preservatives to prevent cell destabilization. Trehalose is utilized as a bioconjugate in platelet and red blood cell preservation to maintain protein thermodynamics and stabilizing protein formulations in liquid and freeze-dried states. Biomimetic approaches have been explored as alternatives to cryo- and lyopreservation of blood components. Intravascular hemostats such as PLGA nanoparticles functionalized with PEG motifs, topical hemostats utilizing fibrinogen or chitosan, and liposomal encapsulated hemoglobin with surface modifications are effectively stored long-term through bioconjugation. In thinking about the best methods for storage and transport, we are focusing this topical review on blood products that have the longest track record of preservation and looking at how these methods can be applied to synthetic systems.

Smartphone-Enabled Quantification of Potassium in Blood Plasma

“…[K + ] obtained by smartphone device was close to the values obtained by AAS method. The lower [K + ] in these samples is due to usage of lyophilized bovine plasma, in which loss of K + might occur during sublimation and filtration processes [ 43 ]. This result shows that even with different source of bovine blood plasma, the method could give fairly accurate result for [K + ] quantification.…”

Formulation of Cell-Based Medicinal Products: A Question of Life or Death?

“…39,40 Moreover, and highly relevant in this context, a few groups have reported on the freeze-drying of mammalian cells (including CBMPs) 41e48 and whole blood. 49 The availability of freeze-dried CBMPs with a long shelf-life at ambient or refrigerated conditions would mitigate a lot of the current issues with storage and logistics of off-the-shelf products worldwide. Therefore, it would make sense to make resources available for exploring the feasibility of lyophilized CBMPs.…”

Whole blood derived covid convalescent plasma: An economical option among developing countries

“…Further, In similar lines of fractionation of plasma derived products like – immunoglobulins, albumin, factor V, VII, VIII concentrates, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies can also be extracted, lyophilized [ 16 ] and utilised as a plasma product with longer storage periods and ease of handling, which can even be supplied to remove areas with ease.…”

“…In view of ongoing pandemic, additional efforts by the Blood centres are needed to motivate apheresis donations, where the CP donors carry the fear of losing protective antibodies post donation. Now that the whole blood donations have stabilised Further, In similar lines of fractionation of plasma derived products likeimmunoglobulins, albumin, factor V, VII, VIII concentrates, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies can also be extracted, lyophilized [16] and utilised as a plasma product with longer storage periods and ease of handling, which can even be supplied to remove areas with ease.…”