Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers HBOCs

The shortage of blood products, the problems arising from possible bacterial, viral and prion transmissions, the significant costs for storage, and problems with type- and cross-matching has led to numerous 

TABLE 5.2 Details on Selected Hemoglobin-based Oxygen Carriers  

Product Source of Hemoglobin Chemical Modification Average M, Company Status Z Clinical Trials 

Hemopure Bovine Inter-Zintramolecularly cross-linked by glutaraldehyde 250kDa Biopure, Cambridge, MA,USA Approved for human use in Sonth Africa (2001), filed for biologic license application by FDA (USA) Z Phase IB 

Oxyglobin Bovine Inter-Zintramolecularly cross-linked by glutaraldehyde 200kDa Biopure, Cambridge, MA,USA Approved for dogs (1999) 

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Wahr, J.A. Anderson, M.M. Giacherio, D.A. Hallock, L. Gawryl, M.S. Lansden, C. Tremper, K.K. The effects of a blood-salvaging device on blood containing a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier, HBOC-201. J. Cardiothorac. Vase. Anesthes. 1997, 11 (1), 10-12. 

Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) are supposed to be used as an alternative in anemic patients when erythroc)les are not available or when erythrocyte transfusion is not possible. Adverse events with HBOCs have been reported, including myocardial infarction, stroke, acute renal insufficiency. 

Pearce LB, Gawryl MS. The pharmacology of tissue oxygenation by biopure s hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier, Hemopure (HBOC-201). Adv Exp Med Biol 2003 530 261. 

Hemoglobin (Hb) is the most abundant protein in blood (12-15 g/dL), and should be the most essential protein. However, Hb becomes toxic once it is released from red blood cells (RBCs), which is evident in some pathological hemolytic diseases. Chemically modified cell-free Hb based oxygen carriers (HBOCs), such as intra-molecularly cross-linked, polymerized, and polymer conjugated Hbs have been synthesized to prevent the toxic effect of cell-free Hbs (Fig. 1). However, no product is commercially available yet. Some safety issues are arose during the final stage of clinical trials [1]. It seems difficult to completely eliminate the... 

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