Lipidheme-microsphere (LH-M). A new type of totally synthetic oxygen carrier and its oxygen carrying ability.
We have succeeded in synthesizing a new type of totally artificial oxygen carrier which was produced by covering oil droplets (microsphere) with synthetic hemes (LH-M). We studied its oxygen-transporting ability in hemorrhagic dogs. Four beagles weighing about 8 kg were studied. Under controlled ventilation, exchange-transfusion of 30 ml/kg was carried out. Cardiac output, hemoglobin and LH-M concentration in the blood, and blood gas were measured to 5 hours after intravenous injection of LH-M solution. LH-M delivered 15.7 to 22.3 ml/min (11 to 16%) of oxygen to the tissue and 5.5 to 8.2 ml/min (11 to 17%) of oxygen was consumed from LH-M to 5 hours after intravenous injection. Its half-life time in the blood stream was about 12 hours. It was confirmed that LH-M transported oxygen and released it to the tissue in vivo.