PFC-based oxygen carriers

The challenges encountered when developing a PFC-based oxygen carrier are very different from those of the hemoglobin-based products. They concern both the PFC itself and its formulation into a stable, biocompatible emulsion, allowing intravascular administration. 

The fact that no satisfactory oxygen carrier has reached commercialization after over half a century of intensive research, first on hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers and subsequently also on PFC-based products, attests that the challenges were more formidable than anticipated. This chapter will consider only the PFC approach. Since this approach has recently been reviewed extensively by the authors [8,20-22], it will be limited to a brief overview of the challenges, solutions, present state of clinical evaluation, and most recent developments. 

---