In 1957, Thomas Chang, an undergraduate at McGill University, decided his research project would be to make the first artificial cell and from this project reported the preparation of artificial red blood cells. That project grew into today's dynamic field of biomedical research in which "designer cells" are a major focus. Chang is credited with inventing microencapsulation, which allows biochemicals to be contained inside artificial membranes and, ever since that development, he and many other researchers have been on a quest to develop viable artificial blood to replace whole blood in transfusions. However, success has remained elusive. A safe, effective blood substitute is highly desirable because it would eliminate several problems of using fresh blood, including supply shortages in the face of increasing demand; short shelf life even under refrigeration; transmission of hepatitis, the AIDS virus, and other viral diseases, and the need for careful blood typing...