This National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) Project Grant award of $274,987 to Xheme Inc. will develop a completely non-toxic blood bag to replace the current polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bags that use toxic plasticizers. The new technology aims to extend the shelf life of whole blood by protecting against cold storage-induced damage, addressing the urgent need created by the European Union's ban on the toxic plasticizer in PVC blood bags and the environmental issues with PVC disposal. The Phase I project will apply interdisciplinary research in materials science, polymer engineering, and blood biology to demonstrate the feasibility of the non-toxic composite blood bags. The technology has the potential to save millions of lives annually by enabling longer blood storage and seamlessly integrating into existing manufacturing and infrastructure. Subawards are planned under this grant.
Generated 10/29/24, 5:16 AM