IN A NUTSHELL:The purpose of blood substitutes is to mimic the oxygen carrying function of blood, which is most critically needed for life in the immediate time frame. Research in this area over the past 50 years has focused on two main approaches:  hemoglobin extracted from human or animal blood, and fluorocarbon emulsions. Both approaches have problems. Complications in human trials have already led to the demise of a key company that focused on the hemoglobin approach. The long term stability of fluorocarbon emulsions is also a question mark. The dendritic polymer approach approximates the structure of fluorocarbon emulsions with covalently bonded constructs that should have long term stability. Smaller nano-scaled sizes facilitates biocompatibility and accessibility. In this approach, a dendritic or hyperbranched fluorocarbon core with high gas solubility is attached to biocompatible hydrophilic branches at the periphery. The use of organosilicon branches in the core dendritic structure enhances gas solubility and thermal stability.

BENEFITS Precisely defined nano-scaled size and shape, high water solubility, good thermal stability, high oxygen solubility. In addition to blood substitute/oxygen therapeutic applications, these perfluorocarbon-silicon dendritic/hyperbranched polymer compositions have applications in cell culture and membranes that require high oxygen permeability.

STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT Delivery of oxygen to tissue in rabbit models demonstrated.

NEXT STEPS Seeking to license for medical and/or biomanufacturing applications.