Synthetic Platelet Storage Medium Extends Viability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current platelet storage media lead to impaired platelet function after five days due to pH drop caused by lactic acid fermentation, despite the presence of oxygen, as platelets predominantly use anaerobic glycolysis for energy production, and existing solutions require a significant amount of plasma, which is valuable for other medical uses.
Innovation Solution
A synthetic storage medium with reduced plasma content, containing sodium chloride, sodium citrate, sodium acetate, phosphate, magnesium ions, glucose, and optional potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and L-carnitine, which promotes oxidative phosphorylation over anaerobic glycolysis, maintaining pH between 6.4 and 7.4 and supporting platelet ATP production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If platelets are stored in conventional media with plasma, then platelet function is maintained initially, but platelet function becomes impaired after five days due to pH drop from lactic acid fermentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the storage medium by incorporating specific buffers (phosphate, bicarbonate, HEPES), glucose at optimized concentrations, and magnesium ions. These parameter changes create a chemical environment that suppresses lactic acid fermentation and maintains pH stability, thereby extending platelet functionality beyond the conventional five-day limit
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary substances including buffers that mediate pH control, glucose as an alternative energy substrate that mediates metabolic pathways, and magnesium ions that mediate enzyme function. These intermediaries facilitate the shift from anaerobic to aerobic metabolism and maintain the chemical environment necessary for extended platelet viability
2Reliability
If plasma is used as storage medium for platelets, then platelet viability is maintained, but a significant amount of plasma is consumed which is valuable for other medical uses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the essential functional components of plasma (buffers, nutrients, ions) and recreates them in a synthetic formulation. This extraction allows the invention to achieve platelet viability maintenance without requiring actual plasma, thereby conserving this valuable medical resource for its primary therapeutic uses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a synthetic copy of plasma's functional properties through carefully formulated buffers, glucose, and ions. This synthetic copy replicates the life-sustaining characteristics of plasma for platelet storage without consuming the actual biological material, enabling resource conservation while maintaining effectiveness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution extends platelet viability and functionality for transfusion to 5-10 days by maintaining optimal pH and ATP levels, with platelets stored in the synthetic medium exhibiting better response to hypotonic shock and lower P-selectin expression compared to those in plasma or other media.
Implementation Method 1
platelets use two metabolic pathways to generate ATP: (a) anaerobic glycolysis followed by lactic acid fermentation or (b) glycolysis followed by oxidative phosphorylation. Glycolysis results in one mole of glucose being converted to 2 moles of pyruvate, and two moles of ATP. The pyruvate can then undergo lactic acid fermentation also called anaerobic glycolysis.
Implementation Method 2
The pyruvate can then undergo lactic acid fermentation also called anaerobic glycolysis. Although no additional ATP is produced in lactic acid fermentation, the conversion of pyruvate to lactic acid regenerates NAD+ and allows glycolysis to continue generating at least a small amount of ATP from the metabolism of glucose. Because lactic acid fermentation, which can negatively affect the pH of the medium and platelets stored therein, is stimulated by the absence of oxygen, platelets are typically stored in containers permeable to oxygen to promote oxidative phosphorylation and suppress lactic acid formation.
Data Source
AI summary
Synthetic storage media are disclosed for use in the processing and the storing of platelets. The storage media includes a platelet storage solution and less than 20 percent plasma to preserve platelet function after at least 7 days of storage.