[Polyvinylpyrolidone-fixed hemoglobin as an oxygen carrying blood substitute (author's transl)]

The development of blood substitute oxygen carriers has branched off into several directions: stroma-free hemoglobin solutions, modelling of hemoglobin by fixation of heme or hemopeptides to polymers, filling of microcapsules with hemoglobin solution, crosslinking of hemoglobin. However, the application as blood replacement fluids in patients has not been possible so far because of several disadvantages. In this paper synthesis and properties of an oxygen carrying blood substitute are described in which the hemoglobin molecule is covalently bound to polyvinylpyrrolidone. In aqueous solution the preparation fulfills some basic requirements such as high solubility, only slightly increased oxygen affinity, and low viscosity. Normothermic perfusion experiments with isolated pig kidneys demonstrate that the solution provides an adequate oxygen supply to the organ, has no toxic side effects on kidney function, and has a significantly lower elimination rate compared to an unmodified hemoglobin solution.