Oxygen-transport and solution properties of polylipid/Hb vesicles (ARC)

Polymerized phospholipid vesicle encapsulating Hb (polylipid/Hb vesicle) was prepared from a mixture of unsaturated phospholipid, cholesterol and unsaturated fatty acid and polymerization by gamma-ray irradiation. The average radius of resulting vesicles was 203 +/- 39 nm and concentrated Hb (30 wt%) was efficiently encapsulated. gamma-Ray polymerization proceeds theoretically at low temperature (4 degrees C). P50 and oxygen transporting efficiency were adjusted to 40 mmHg and 40%, respectively. Oncotic pressure and solution viscosity can be controlled to the same values as blood.