Red Blood Cell Preservation Under Austere Conditions
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Date
2023-01-05
Access
2024-12-01
Authors
Angermeier, Tori Marena
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
East Carolina University
Abstract
In the United States, the maximum approved preservation time for red blood cells under hypothermic storage conditions is 42 days when treated with an appropriate additive solution, namely AS-1. In this investigation, we analyze the possible protective properties of sucralose alone, in combination with, and as an added ingredient to the AS-1 preservation solution. Absorbance measurements were used to monitor the amount of free hemoglobin found in the supernatant for the variety of different treatments investigated. Blood treated with sucralose alone did not show to minimize hemolytic leakage as well as the current standard, whereas red cells treated with the modified AS-1 solution where sucralose replaced the mannitol constituent showed similar results to that of the current standard. Statistical analysis revealed that no significant difference between the standard AS-1 solution and the modified AS-1 solution was observed when all studies were integrated together. Osmotic fragility experiments were conducted to assess if the membrane flexibility was compromised due to the addition of sugar during incubation by quantifying the percent hemolysis at various salt concentrations. Analyses determining the concentration of salt required to induce 50% hemolysis, known as the IC50 value, were used to compare the treatments. Red cells treated with sucralose alone showed higher IC50 values, which is associated with red cell membrane rigidity. Lower IC50 values were observed for blood treated with the modified AS-1 solution, which showed no statistical significance in comparison to that of the standard AS-1 solution when all studies were considered. Potassium assays were conducted to measure potassium leakage as a function of time in storage. Blood samples treated with sucralose alone reached equilibrium more quickly, suggesting sucralose alone does not retard the leakage of potassium as well as the current standard. Red cells treated with the modified AS-1 solution showed similar results to the current standard as the rate of potassium leakage was the same. Cellular morphology studies were conducted to observe the morphological changes red blood cells undergo during extended preservation periods. Blood treated with sucralose alone reach undesirable morphologies more quickly when compared to the current standard, suggesting sucralose alone does not preserve the membrane as well as the standard. Red cells treated with the modified AS-1 storage solution showed to retard the progress to undesirable morphologies better than that of the standard AS-1 solution as the cells maintained discocyte and echinocyte structures for longer periods of time with no red cell fragmentation throughout the duration of time in storage.