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Updated: Feb 21, 2026

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Next-Generation Polymerized Human Hemoglobin for Improved Donor Lung Evaluation and Preservation in Rats
Published on: June 14, 2024
Mixtures of tense and relaxed state polymerized human hemoglobin regulate oxygen affinity and tissue construct
Donald Andrew Belcher1, Uddyalok Banerjee1, Christopher Michael Baehr2
1William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
Abstract:
Pure tense (T) and relaxed (R) quaternary state polymerized human hemoglobins (PolyhHbs) were synthesized and their biophysical properties characterized, along with mixtures of T- and R-state PolyhHbs. It was observed that the oxygen affinity of PolyhHb mixtures varied linearly with T-state mole fraction. Computational analysis of PolyhHb facilitated oxygenation of a single fiber in a hepatic hollow fiber (HF) bioreactor was performed to evaluate the oxygenation potential of T- and R-state PolyhHb mixtures. PolyhHb mixtures with T-state mole fractions greater than 50% resulted in hypoxic and hyperoxic zones occupying less than 5% of the total extra capillary space (ECS). Under these conditions, the ratio of the pericentral volume to the perivenous volume in the ECS doubled as the T-state mole fraction increased from 50 to 100%. These results show the effect of varying the T/R-state PolyhHb mole fraction on oxygenation of tissue-engineered constructs and their potential to oxygenate tissues.
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