Liposome/heme as a totally synthetic oxygen carrier

The authors synthetically derived protoheme (oxygen-binding site of hemoglobin) to an amphiphilic heme compound and embedded it in the phospholipid bilayer of liposomes, instead of in an aqueous inside region of liposomes. This liposome/heme transports oxygen efficiently under physiological conditions. The characteristics of this totally synthetic liposome/heme as an artificial oxygen carrier are summarized in this paper. Oxygen binding is reversible and very rapid. The oxygen volume dissolved in the fluid is similar or superior to that of blood. The oxygen-binding affinity is close to that of blood. The particle size is smaller than 0.1 u m. The product is physically and mechanically stable under shear stress and storage. The components are synthetic derivatives of protoheme and phospholipid originated in nature. These advantages and the brilliant red color of the solution are derived from the fact that this totally synthetic liposome/heme, transports oxygen in the same way as red blood cells. When the liposome/heme solution was mixed with human blood, the liposome/heme delivered oxygen to blood in the mixture system.