A stable perfluorochemical blood substitute

A stable emulsion of perfluorodecalin, made up of 34 percent (vol/vol) perfluorodecalin dispersed by sonication in isotonic Tyrode's buffer (pH 7.4) containing egg yolk lecithin, has been developed. The viscosity of the emulsion is the same as that of human blood, and the particle size is 0.2 microns in diameter. On storage at 5 degrees C, there was no change in viscosity for up to 60 weeks. At 21 degrees C, viscosity increased after 20 weeks of storage; this increase was considerably diminished by the presence of tocopherol in the emulsion. The accumulation of malondialdehyde indicated that there was continuous slow oxidation of the lecithin on storage of the emulsion at either 5 or 21 degrees C; this oxidation was markedly reduced by the presence of tocopherol.