Dodecafluoropentane emulsion as an oxygen therapeutic

Dodecafluoropentane emulsion (DDFPe) is a fluorocarbon (FC) under clinical development as an oxygen therapeutic and is regulated as a blood substitute. Compared to all the prior FCs studied, DDFP is the most advantageous for oxygen delivery and it is active at a lower concentration (1/200th to 1/1000th the weight of other FCs). DDFP has a boiling point of 29 °C, is more water soluble than prior FCs, and following IV administration clears via exhalation. Prior FCs had boiling points ≥ 140 °C and were retained long-term in the body causing adverse events. DDFP is a gas at biological temperature while prior FCs were liquids. Gases deliver roughly 1000 times more oxygen than liquids. DDFPe has two mechanisms of action: (1) The size of the molecule is the smallest that is a liquid at room temperature; on a molar volume basis this equates to more dissolution of oxygen. (2) Because of its boiling point close to physiologic temperature, DDFP delivers oxygen more effectively than liquid FCs.Highlight PointsFluorocarbons (FCs) dissolve oxygen and other respirable gases.FC emulsions generally do not have biological effects of and by themselves, but rather they increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.There are a variety of FCs that were developed in the past as blood substitutes but they all caused accumulation in humans leading to toxic responses.Dodecafluoropentane emulsion (DDFPe) is being developed as an oxygen therapeutic to increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood and oxygen delivery to tissues.