Perfluorocarbons as gas transporters for O₂, NO, CO and volatile anesthetics

Abstract

SUMMARY Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) developed for the intravascular transport of oxygen have a higher solubility for gases compared to plasma and therefore can be used to transport and deliver a variety of bioactive gases for therapeutic purposes. Intravenous infusion of PFCs preequilibrated with carbon monoxide gas may provide a means to produce vasodilatation. A similar effect can be obtained by preloading PFC emulsions with nitric oxide (NO), as well as introducing unsaturated PFC emulsions in the circulation, since these can scavenge and redistribute NO. Volatile anesthetics delivered in conjunction with the intravenous presence of PFCs are more effective at lower dosages, and provide for a more uniform anesthetic effect in terms of duration of anesthesia. PFC emulsions are therefore proposed as vehicles for the transport and delivery of gases to the tissues, offering high accuracy of dosage, and avoiding uncertainties of gas delivery associated with gas inspiration via the lungs.

Fluorinated Chitosan Microgels to Overcome Internal Oxygen Transport Deficiencies in Microtissue Culture Systems

“…These results support previous work that transport barriers to oxygen in spheroids can be reduced by enhancing oxygen transport properties of spheroids, [ 31 ] and PFCs are well‐suited suited for this purpose based on their high affinity for molecular oxygen. [ 36 ] It is important to note that the data in Figure 5B shows trends more than absolute numbers. This is mainly because of the nature of the method we used for directly measuring oxygen concentration.…”

Safety of poly (ethylene glycol)-coated perfluorodecalin-filled poly (lactide-co-glycolide) microcapsules following intravenous administration of high amounts in rats

“…Short- and long-term regulation of NO production in response to shear stress on the endothelial membrane of vasculature (as potentially caused by the heavy-weight PFD-filled microcapsules) is well-known [ 45 , 46 ]. Additionally, the formation of relatively stable S-nitrosothiols (believed to act as biological metabolites and carriers of NO) in the blood in presence of perfluorocarbons (as PFD) can induce NO release via synthesis of intermediates, that are highly effective in nitrosating other compounds [ 47–49 ]. This process can also be triggered by shear force on endothelial cells [ 50 ].…”

Supra-Plasma Expanders

“…Notably, fluorocarbons are universal gas carriers, including volatile anesthetics and nitric oxide, a potentially highly beneficial property that after 3 decades of development is now beginning to be explored. 21,22 An important aspect that with few notable exceptions is common to all oxygen carriers’ development is the lack of physiological studies at the level of the microcirculation, a problem that is currently being corrected 23 for fluorocarbons, and that could have prevented many failures.…”