Polyhemoglobin catalase superoxide dismutase carbonic anhydrase: a novel soluble biotherapeutic with no cardiac toxicity for hemorrhagic shock and other uses

Extensive blood loss from car, plane, bus and train accidents; earthquake; war, terrorism need quick blood replacement. But patients have to be first transported to the hospital for blood group test. Delays in bad weather, traffic jams, earthquake, war or remote Canadian North can result in death. In a recent U.S. study a simple oxygen carrier given on the spot to traffic accident patients could delay the need for blood for 12 hours. However, there was toxic side effect on the heart. Since oxygen carrier only transports oxygen it can release damaging oxygen radicals. Red blood cells (RBC) can transport both oxygen and carbon dioxide and remove oxygen radicals. Thus, we designed a new soluble complex with all 3 RBC actions enhanced. This has no blood group antigen and can be used right away on the spot. Although O group donor blood can also be used universally, the advantages of this complex are: (1) RBC need to be kept in a refrigerator, the complex is stable at room temperature and be easily stored on the shelf or transported. (2) It is stable for 1 year in room temperature. RBC stored in the frig is only stable for 42 days. (3) Being a solution, it can better supply oxygen to tissues. (4) It has an enhanced ability to remove oxygen radical to prevent tissue injury. (5) It has enhanced CO2 carrying ability to remove harmful tissue CO2 (6) It can be sterilized to remove infective agents. It can also be useful when the arterial supply is obstructed as in heart attack and stroke. Compared to 7 micron RBC particles, the soluble complex can more easily pass through obstructed vessels. Furthermore, the enhanced ability to remove oxygen radicals and tissue CO2 prevents tissue injury. The components for this new complex can be extracted from outdated donor blood, placental blood and other sources. This will conserve donor blood for other uses and at the same time utilize outdated donor RBC and placenta RBC that would otherwise be discarded

CHANG, Thomas

McGill University

Canadian Blood Services-CIHR Partnership Operating Grant Program

Quebec

$224,520