We recently reported that hemoglobin (Hb) encapsulated in liposomes (LEH) containing phosphatidyl-inositol (PI) was efficacious in rats. However, liposomes containing PI may temporarily compromise mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS) function. The objective of this study was then to determine whether a polyethylene oxide derivative of phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PEG-PE) would serve as an acceptable substitute for PI in our LEH formulation. In this study we compare the physical properties, pharmacokinetics and efficacy in life support obtained for Hb encapsulated with either PI or PEG-PE phospholipids. Both liposome compositions contained the same matrix lipids, egg derived phosphatidyl choline (PC) and cholesterol, were of similar size and contained the same amount of encapsulated Hb. The liposomes differed only in their phospholipid component, one containing 5 mol% PI and the other an equal amount of the sterically-stabilizing lipid PEG-PE. The physical characteristics of the PI and PEG-PE compositions were remarkably similar: only small amounts of Met-Hb were generated during processing and following 1 month frozen storage, oxygen affinity and cooperativity and steady shear viscosity values for 30% by volume suspensions (in isotonic/isooncotic saline containing albumin) were near the normal values expected for whole blood, incubation in plasma at 37 degrees C resulted in only small amounts of Hb release and shear had very little impact on Hb leakage. Circulation half-lives following 50% isovolemic exchange-transfusion in rats were also similar, about 15-20 hours for either formation. Animals survived following 97% isovolemic exchange-transfusion of both compositions, confirming the efficacy of each.
An effective and safe red blood cell substitute is being developed based on double emulsion/evaporation techniques followed by high pressure homogenization to form liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin (LEH). Formulations are made up of hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine (PC, soy or egg), cholesterol, phosphatidylinositol (PI), and alpha-tocopherol in a molar ratio of 1:1:0.2:0.02, respectively. Resulting LEH-encapsulated hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations are greater than 80% of precursor Hb solutions. Met-Hb generation accompanying LEH processing appears to be small with only a 3% increase for encapsulated over precursor. These results correspond to an oxygen content for an LEH suspension sample (50% by volume LEH) of 15 volume% oxygen. Oxygen affinity and cooperativity values for LEH suspensions appear to be near the normal values expected for whole blood. The viscosity of LEH suspension samples (50% by volume LEH in phosphate-buffered saline containing 7.5 wt% albumin) were slightly higher than that of whole blood. The effect of shear rate on leakage of encapsulated Hb from LEH was small, i.e. 0.5% or less. Nearly total isovolemic exchange transfusion using a cannulated rat model demonstrates efficacy of LEH suspension samples. There appears to be no difference in rat internal organ weights between rats exchanged with control compared to rats exchanged with LEH. Circulation half-life following 50% isovolemic exchange-transfusion is about 15 to 18 hours.
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