Blood substitutes are substances designed to temporarily perform some of the functions of human blood, particularly the transport of oxygen. Most experimental blood substitutes are intended to replace the oxygen-carrying role of red blood cells in situations such as severe blood loss or shortages of donated blood. Two main types have been developed: hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, which use modified hemoglobin molecules, and perfluorocarbon emulsions, synthetic compounds capable of dissolving and transporting oxygen. Although some have been used in limited medical settings, no blood substitute can fully replicate all the functions of real blood, such as immune defense and clotting.
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