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Interaction between erythrocytes and a perfluorochemical blood substitute
V V Tuliani1, E A O'Rear, B M Fung
1Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman 73019.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) like Oxypherol can reduce red blood cell flexibility, hindering oxygen delivery. This occurs due to Oxypherol droplet adsorption onto red blood cells in the presence of plasma proteins.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Hematology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) are investigated as artificial oxygen carriers (erythrocyte substitutes).
- Oxypherol, a PFC preparation, is used in animal studies and may affect red blood cell function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism by which Oxypherol affects erythrocyte deformability.
- To determine the role of plasma proteins in Oxypherol-induced changes in red blood cells.
Main Methods:
- Incubation of erythrocytes with Oxypherol in plasma.
- Assessment of erythrocyte deformability.
- Fluorine-19 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to detect Oxypherol adsorption.
Main Results:
- Oxypherol reduced erythrocyte deformability, an effect dependent on the presence of plasma proteins.
- The reduction in deformability was not specific to any particular plasma protein.
- Fluorine-19 NMR confirmed adsorption of Oxypherol droplets onto erythrocyte surfaces.
- Increased Oxypherol adsorption correlated with decreased erythrocyte deformability.
Conclusions:
- Oxypherol-induced loss of erythrocyte deformability is likely caused by the adsorption of Oxypherol droplets onto the red blood cell surface.
- This effect, occurring in the presence of plasma, could impede the function of PFCs as erythrocyte substitutes.