Improved Performance, Stable Artificial Oxygen Carrier for Battlefield Casualty Care

Abstract: Foster-Miller and the University of Pittsburgh propose to develop a new artificial oxygen carrier (OC) formulation with improved stability and tissue oxygenation performance for use in first echelon combat casualty care applications. In Phase I, they will demonstrate the feasibility of using structure-property relationships and computer-aided property prediction methods to develop improved perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsions that are stable over extended periods of time (more than one year) under the widely varying storage conditions expected in battlefield use. In addition, they will demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining improved tissue oxygenation using the University of Pittsburgh's innovative drag reducing polymer (DRP) additive. The feasibility demonstration will include measurements of emulsion particle size and stability under a range of conditions (including freeze/thaw stability), oxygen carrying capability of the OC formulation, in vitro rheology measurements, and preliminary assessments of the effect of OC formulation on various blood parameters. (P-040435)