Abstract
In vivo oxygen transporting capacity of totally synthetic artificial red cell (poly-liposome embedded lipid-heme) solution, which can bind and release molecular oxygen under physiological condition, was described. Exchange transfusion with the lipid-heme solution to six dogs weighing about 8kg was carried out. After the transfusion with 30ml/kg of the lipid-heme solution, the oxygen partial pressure of mixed venous blood increased from 30 to 50mmHg. Oxygen consumption by the lipid-heme was calculated to be 15ml/min (20% of total oxygen transport), which is corresponding to the lipid-heme concentration in the blood stream. Circulation half-life time in the blood stream was about 11hr. for the lipid-heme and about 26hr. for the liposome. Oxidation rate of the lipid-heme (met-formation) in the blood stream was slower than that of in vitro: only 6% of the lipid-heme was oxidized at 11hr. after the injection.
