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Oxygen transport to tissue by persistent bubbles: theory and simulations
1Department of Physiology, State University of New York, Buffalo 14214.
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|December 1, 1994
Summary
Persistent gas bubbles can carry oxygen (O2) through the bloodstream. Diluting the stabilizing gas with nitrogen (N2) prolongs bubble persistence, enhancing O2 delivery to tissues.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Physiology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Persistent gas bubbles can be engineered to traverse capillaries.
- These bubbles, if gas-permeable, can transport oxygen (O2) from the lungs to tissues via the bloodstream.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simulate the behavior of gas bubbles stabilized by a slowly permeating gas (Gas X).
- To investigate factors influencing bubble persistence and O2 transport efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mathematical model based on physical laws.
- Simulated bubble behavior under varying conditions, including the presence of nitrogen (N2) in tissues and venous blood.
Main Results:
- Bubble persistence is enhanced when tissue and venous blood contain N2, which dilutes Gas X and slows its outward diffusion.
- A 6-micron diameter bubble carries 0.11 picoliters (pl) of O2 during pure O2 breathing.
- Under hyperbaric O2 therapy conditions, a bubble carries approximately 0.26 pl of O2.
Conclusions:
- Stabilized gas bubbles demonstrate potential for efficient O2 transport.
- These bubbles release O2 effectively at high partial pressures of oxygen (PO2) in tissues.
- Minimal amounts of foreign substances are required for their preparation.