Repurposing surplus plasma and expired platelets into useful biotherapies

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Blood Banking

Background:

• Significant volumes of plasma and platelet concentrates are discarded annually.
• Current practices often treat these surplus units as waste, missing opportunities for valuable biotherapy production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight practical strategies for valorizing surplus blood products.
• To explore the potential of repurposing plasma and platelets into safe and effective biotherapies.
• To emphasize the role of blood establishments in advancing biotherapy delivery.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of pathogen-reduced cryoprecipitate and cryoprecipitate-reduced plasma.
• Development of serum eye drops and mini-pool immunoglobulins.
• Contract fractionation for plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs) and conversion of expired platelets into regenerative materials.

Main Results:

• Surplus plasma can be fractionated into PDMPs like immunoglobulins, clotting factors, and albumin.
• Expired platelets can be converted into human platelet lysates, growth-factor concentrates, or extracellular vesicles for cell therapy.
• These repurposed products offer alternatives to commercially sourced or recombinant products.

Conclusions:

• Repurposing surplus plasma and platelets reduces waste and creates valuable biotherapies.
• Implementation requires adherence to quality standards, safety measures, and regulatory oversight.
• This strategy enhances patient outcomes and fosters national strategic independence in biotherapy access.