PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Fluorocarbons”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Fluorocarbon emulsions as injectable oxygen carriers. Recent progress and perspectives].

Fluorocarbon emulsions are presently being developed to serve as injectable oxygen carriers (so-called "blood substitutes"). In this approach oxygen is simply dissolved in the liquid carrier and the amount of gas dissolved is proportional to its partial pressure. Increasing the O2-delivering capacity is therefore achieved more easily by increasing the oxygen content of the air breathed by the patient than by increasing the dose of fluorocarbon administered. The absence of a chemical bond between the gas and its carriers allows over 90% of the transported oxygen to be delivered. The fluorocarbon droplets act as oxygen carriers , and also appear to facilitate its diffusion. Chemically and biologically highly inert, fluorocarbons are excreted by exhalation without being metabolized. The first generation of emulsions, exemplified by Fluosol has only limited efficacy due to its low fluorocarbon content, low intravascular persistence and insufficient stability. It has to be stored and distributed frozen, then reconstituted prior to use. Fluosol has nevertheless been licensed by the Food and Drug Administration for use during high risk PTCA. The second generation of injectable fluorocarbon emulsions, exemplified by Oxygent is 4-5 times more concentrated and consequently more efficacious than Fluosol. Considerably more stable, this emulsion can be stored for over one year at 5-8 degrees C and is ready for use. The fluorocarbon used has a significantly shorter organ-retention time. The applications of the present emulsions are still limited by their short intravascular persistence, and are those for which prolonged efficacy is not required, which includes perioperative hemodilution, ischemia, cardioplegia, reperfusion, sensitization of tumors to radio- and chemotherapy, organ preservation and diagnosis. The efficacy of the new emulsions has been established in various animal models. The mild side-effects observed in Phase I clinical trials appear to result from a transient activation of the monocyte/macrophage system and to be suppressed prophylactically by cyclooxygenase inhibitors or corticosteroids. Research is presently oriented towards controlling intravascular persistence better, increasing emulsion stability further, minimizing side-effects and optimizing emulsion characteristics for specific indications.

Animals↗

Fluorocarbon-enhanced mutagenesis of polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

The widely used fluorocarbon refrigerant and cleaning solvent 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (Freon TF), though generally considered biologically inert, enhances the metabolic activation of chemical carcinogens. Liver microsomal extracts from mice given single intraperitoneal injections of this fluorocarbon showed significant increases in their ability to activate carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons to form mutagens, compared to control mice injected with saline. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons aminofluorene and acetylaminofluorene were activated in this way. Mutagenicity was measured by a microbial assay. Both commercial grade and redistilled fluorocarbons gave similar results, that is, more highly active liver extracts after administration of the fluorocarbon preparation to mice. Neither industrial grade nor redistilled preparation was itself mutagenic. A combined liver microsomal extract from mice breathing Freon TF at 20,000 ppm in air for 8 hr also had enhanced ability to activate aminofluorene as a mutagen. Exposing mice to Freon TF by inhalation more closely matches the normal route of human exposure to fluorocarbons. The results of this study imply that low-molecular-weight fluorocarbons may pose a carcinogenic risk by acting as cocarcinogenic enhancers of carcinogen activation. The possibility that fluorocarbons are cocarcinogens in this way has apparently not been heretofore considered.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Oxygen transport of colloidal fluorocarbon suspensions in asanguineous rabbits.

In anesthetized, oxygen-breathing rabbits, the entire blood volume was exchanged with a 20% colloidal fluorocarbon fluid suspension of high gas solubility. In contrast to the control animals with acute isovolemic and hypervolemic hemodilution, the fluorocarbon suspension prevented the decrease in arterial oxygen content below a hematocrit of 13%. However, the more pronounced effect of the fluorocarbon suspension on oxygen delivery occurred at higher hematocrits and was due to its efficiency as a plasma expander, since it increased the cardiac output even above the level of the hypervolemic hemodilution group. The fluorocarbon suspension also raised arterial blood pressure and total peripheral resistance due to its increased viscosity. Thus, in mild hemodilution, the fluorocarbon suspension kept oxygen utilization in the normal range by increasing cardiac output, and in extreme hemodilution it improved oxygen utilization by also raising the arterial oxygen content and arterial blood pressure. The survival time of the isovolemic control animals was 31.6 min, it was extended to 57.8 min in the hypervolemic control animals, and the rabbits with the fluorocarbon suspension lived for 124.8 min.

Animals↗

Fluorocarbons facilitate lung recruitment.

OBJECTIVE: "Open the lung and keep it open" is increasingly accepted as a fundamental principle for mechanical ventilation. However, it is sometimes very difficult, or impossible, to recruit the diseased lung. We questioned whether one could facilitate recruitment by using a low dose of fluorocarbon in a model previously shown to be non-recruitable by conventional sustained inflation maneuvers. DESIGN AND SETTING: Experimental prospective study in a university laboratory. ANIMALS AND INTERVENTIONS: Nine saline-lavaged rabbits subjected to prolonged large tidal volume mechanical ventilation to establish significant lung injury were randomly allocated to two groups: control [High Frequency Oscillation (HFO) alone: n=4] or 1 ml/kg fluorocarbon (FC) treated (HFO/FC: n=5) for 2+1 h (experiment 1). An additional four similarly prepared animals were treated by single-lung instillation of 0.5 ml/kg dose of fluorocarbon and underwent serial computerized tomography scans at a series of predetermined step-wise pressure increase in both lungs (experiment 2). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: In experiment 1 there was a very significant improvement in oxygenation in HFO/FC group (PaO(2) increased from 108 mmHg to 424+/-81 mmHg; P<0.05) while there was no significant change in the control group. In experiment 2 lung volumes were determined using three-dimensional reconstruction. The lung having fluorocarbon showed a 2.4-fold increase in lung volume at inflation pressure of 15 cmH(2)O compared to the lung without fluorocarbon. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that the low equilibrium surface tension and positive spreading coefficient of fluorocarbon facilitates lung recruitment by ungluing adherent surfaces in this model of lung injury.

Animals↗

Characterization of fluorocarbon-in-water emulsions with added triglyceride.

Fluorocarbon-in-water emulsions are being explored clinically as synthetic oxygen carriers in general surgery. Stabilizing fluorocarbon emulsions against coarsening is critical in maintaining the biocompatibility of the formulation following intravenous administration. It has been purported that the addition of a small percentage of long-chain triglyceride results in stabilization of fluorocarbon emulsions via formation of a three-phase emulsion. In a three-phase emulsion, the triglyceride forms a layer around the dispersed fluorocarbon, thereby improving the adhesion of the phospholipid surfactant to the dispersed phase. In the present study, we examined the effect of triglyceride addition on the physicochemical characteristics of the resulting complex dispersion. In particular, we examined the particle composition and stability of the dispersed particles using a method which first fractionates (classifies) the different particles prior to sizing (i.e., sedimentation field-flow fractionation). It was determined that the addition of a long-chain triglyceride (soybean oil) results in oil demixing and two distinct populations of emulsion droplets. The presence of the two types of emulsion droplets is not observed via light scattering techniques, since the triglyceride droplets dominate the scattering due to a large difference in the refractive index between the particles and the medium as compared to fluorocarbon droplets. The growth of the fractionated fluorocarbon emulsion droplets was followed over time, and it was found that there was no difference in growth rates with and without added triglyceride. In contrast, addition of medium-chain-triglyceride (MCT) oils results in a single population of emulsion droplets (i.e., a three-phase emulsion). These emulsions are not stable to droplet coalescence, however, as significant penetration of MCT into the phospholipid lipid interfacial layer results in a negative increment in the monolayer spontaneous curvature, thereby favoring water-in-oil emulsions and resulting in destabilization of the emulsion to the effects of terminal heat sterilization or mechanical stress.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Pulmonary vascular resistance in the fluorocarbon-filled lung.

Pulmonary vascular resistance was investigated in the fluorocarbon-filled lung in an in situ isolated lung preparation. Lungs were perfused at constant flow (100 ml X min-1 X kg-1) with whole blood from a donor cat. left atrial pressure was held constant at zero pressure. Measurements of pulmonary arterial pressure enabled calculation of pulmonary vascular resistance. Regional changes in pulmonary blood flow were determined by the microsphere technique. During quasi-static deflation over a range of 0-30 mmHg, dependent alveolar pressure was consistently greater for a volume of fluorocarbon than for gas, with each pressure-volume curve for the fluorocarbon-filled lung shifted to the right of the curve for the gas-filled lung. In turn, pulmonary vascular resistance was found to increase linearly as a function of increasing alveolar pressure, independent of the medium in the lung. Thus, for a given volume, pulmonary vascular resistance was consistently greater in the fluorocarbon-filled lung compared with the gas-filled lung. This increase in pulmonary vascular resistance was accompanied by a redistribution of pulmonary blood flow in which blood flow to the dependent region was decreased in the fluorocarbon-filled lung compared with the gas-filled lung. Conversely, the less-dependent regions of the lung received a relatively greater percentage of blood flow when filled with fluorocarbon compared with gas. These findings suggest that pulmonary vascular resistance is increased during liquid ventilation, largely as the result of mechanical interaction at the alveolar-vascular interface.

Analysis of Variance↗

Platelet adhesion to radiofrequency glow-discharge-deposited fluorocarbon polymers preadsorbed with selectively depleted plasmas show the primary role of fibrinogen.

Fluorocarbon radio-frequency glow-discharge (RFGD) treatment has previously been shown to cause decreased platelet adhesion despite the presence of adsorbed fibrinogen on the surfaces. In this study platelet adhesion to fluorocarbon RFGD-treated surfaces preadsorbed with human plasma was further examined. A series of plasma deposited fluorocarbon thin films were made by varying the C3F6/CH4 ratio in the monomer feed. The surfaces were preadsorbed with plasma, serum, or plasma selectively depleted of fibronectin, vitronectin, or Von Willebrand factor, and platelet adhesion was measured. We also measured fibrinogen adsorption to the surfaces from plasma, monoclonal antibody binding to adsorbed fibrinogen and SDS elutability of the adsorbed fibrinogen. The antibodies used bind to the three putative platelet binding sites on fibrinogen, namely, M1 antibody binds to the dodecapeptide at the C-terminus of the gamma chain, gamma (402-411), R1 antibody binds to a sequence in the Aalpha chain (87-100) which includes RGDF at Aalpha (95-98) and R2 antibody binds a sequence in the Aalpha chain (566-580) which includes RGDS at Aalpha (572-575). Fibrinogen was found to play a decisive role in mediating platelet adhesion to the fluorocarbon surfaces contacting plasma. Few platelets adhered to the fluorocarbon surfaces preadsorbed with serum, while preadsorption with plasma selectively-depleted of either fibronectin, vitronectin, or von Willebrand factor did not decrease platelet adhesion significantly. Replenishment of exogenous fibrinogen to serum restored platelet adhesion, while replenishment of the other proteins had no effect. Platelet adhesion to the fluorocarbon surfaces was lower than to PET or the methane glow-discharge-treated PET. However, there was no apparent correlation between platelet adhesion and the amount of fibrinogen adsorption or monoclonal antibody binding to surface-bound fibrinogen.

Adsorption↗

A morphologic study of long-term retention of fluorocarbon after liquid ventilation.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine how long perfluorinated hydrocarbons remain in the lung after they are used for lung ventilation in dogs, and to determine if residual perfluorinated hydrocarbons cause structural alteration or an inflammatory reaction of the lung. DESIGN: Adult dogs were anesthetized and received ventilation with oxygenated perfluorinated hydrocarbon liquid. Morphologic studies of tissue from the lungs of these dogs were performed at intervals of a few minutes to 10 years after reconversion to breathing gas. SETTING: University College of Medicine. PARTICIPANTS: Adult mongrel and beagle dogs. INTERVENTIONS: Anesthetized adult dogs breathed oxygenated liquid fluorocarbons for 1 h and then were reconverted to breathing air. Three fluorocarbons, FX-80 (C(8)F(16)O; 3M Company; St. Paul, MN), Caroxin-D (C(10)F(22)O(2); P-1D; Allied Chemical Company; Morristown, NJ), and Caroxin-F (C(9)F(20)O; P-12F; Allied Chemical Company), were used. Morphologic studies of the lungs of these animals were performed immediately after restoration of air breathing and at intervals for up to 10 years. Not all animals were studied at each time interval. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: A transient, acute inflammatory reaction was followed by a massive influx of macrophages, which were at first intra-alveolar and later interstitial, especially around vessels and bronchioles. Fluorocarbons remained in the lung in diminishing amounts for at least 5 years, as evidenced by persistent vacuolated macrophages in the alveoli, interstitium, and hilar lymph nodes; fluorocarbon was also detected in these tissues by chemical assays. In no case was there fibrosis or any other structural alteration associated with the residual fluorocarbon, which suggests that it was inert. At 10 years, no evidence of residual fluorocarbon was seen morphologically.

Animals↗

Overview of progress in the fluorocarbon approach to in vivo oxygen delivery.

The development of fluorocarbon-based oxygen carriers has experienced rapid progress over the past few years. Fluosol has been approved for use during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for high-risk patients. Its clinical evaluation is being pursued as an adjunct to cancer therapy and for treatment of myocardial infarction in conjunction with thrombolytic therapy. O2-delivery efficacy has been achieved with the development of the new highly concentrated (4 to 5 times more concentrated than Fluosol), fluid, emulsions of perfluorooctyl bromide (perflubron), trade-named Oxygen. The stability of fluorocarbon emulsions has also improved considerably and the new emulsions can be stored unfrozen and are ready for use. The side-effect profile of these emulsions has been characterized as being the normal response of the body's phagocytes to the injection of particles, a response that is considered physiological rather than pathological in nature; it involves some products of arachidonic acid metabolism and can be controlled pharmacologically. Means of further stabilizing fluorocarbon emulsions, involving molecular-diffusion-controlling additives or fluorinated surfactants, including mixed fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon compounds, have been devised. Increased control over in vivo particle recognition, intravascular persistence and side effects, and at adapting emulsion characteristics to specific applications, is being investigated. The range of therapeutic applications is expanding. The concentrated emulsions will be able to serve as a temporary red blood cell substitute in many situations. Acute normovolemic hemodilution with fluorocarbon emulsions, used in conjunction with homologous predonation and other blood-sparing techniques, should afford greater flexibility, increase the margin of safety, and reduce or alleviate the need for autologous blood transfusion during surgical procedures. Fluorocarbon applications in the cardiovascular field include use during PTCA, for cardioplegia and reperfusion, and the treatment of myocardial infarction. Significant tumor growth delay has been achieved when concentrated emulsions are used in conjunction with cancer radio- or chemotherapy. Liquid ventilation has potential as a unique treatment for the adult and infant respiratory distress syndromes and for drug delivery. The radiopaque and versatile perflubron can also be used in contrast agents for diagnosis with computed X-ray tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound, allowing the early detection and staging of cancer. Other potential applications investigated include the treatment of cerebral ischemia, organ and limb preservation, use as a tamponade during retinal repair, etc.

Biotechnology↗

Response of the rabbit lung as a criterion of safety for fluorocarbon breathing and blood substitutes.

From the first liquid breathing experiments until now, the lung, not surprisingly, has played a central role in the evolution of fluorocarbon blood substitutes. The first breathable fluorocarbon, a mixture of F-alkylfurans(FC75), bp 102 degrees C, while a poor solvent for the lung's lining and a good solvent for oxygen and carbon dioxide, proved to cause a characteristic gas/vapor microbubble embolism following intravenous administration as an emulsion. Higher boiling fluorocarbons, e.g. F-tributylamine (FC47), bp 174 degrees C, do not produce such gas-vapor emboli. However, intermediate boiling compounds such as F-decalin (PP5), bp 141 degrees C, produce lungs which, although they certainly appear not to contain microbubble emboli, do not collapse when the thorax is opened. Such hyperinflated non-collapsible lungs (HNCL) occur in the rabbit after the intravenous infusion of F-decalin emulsions as well as after the intratracheal infusion of F-decalin neat liquid. F-decalin induced HNCL retain their appearance and low specific gravity for many weeks, gradually returning toward normal after many months. F-methyl decalin, bp 165 degrees C, does not cause HNCL after intravascular or intratracheal administration. Fluorocarbons having boiling points between 140 degrees C and 165 degrees C are being tested in order to find a perfluorinate with the highest transpiration rate, and hence vapor pressure, compatible with an acceptable body dwell time. We have given fluorocarbons intratracheally to 75, intravenously to 221 and both intratracheally and intravenously to 8 rabbits. Free radical trapping agents, antineutrophil, antiinflammatory and other drugs have been administered without appreciable decrease of HNCL. Fluorocarbon critical solution temperature, lipid solubility, emulsifiability, and other physicochemical properties may mediate the pulmonary effect. One method of preventing and treating low dose F-decalin-induced HNCL in rabbits is described.

Animals↗

Fluorocarbon emulsion as a potential contrast medium in the subarachnoid space and brain tissue. Experiments in cats.

Ventriculosubarachnoid perfusion with oxygenated fluorocarbon emulsion has been used in the treatment of severe cerebral ischemia in cats. The perfusion vehicle is prepared mimicking cerebrospinal fluid in terms of electrolyte content, osmolality, pH, glucose and amino acids. Fluorocarbon emulsion is prepared with the vehicle as the external phase and charged with high partial pressures of oxygen. This fluorocarbon emulsion has been well-tolerated by the central nervous system. In addition to delivering oxygen to the ischemic tissues via the ventriculosubarachnoid space, the fluorocarbon emulsion has an absorption coefficient higher than normal brain and cerebrospinal fluid. This property makes it easily detected on the CT scan. Determination of appearance, attenuation, distribution, and absorption of the fluorocarbon has been performed in cats after direct intraventricular injection of the substances and after perfusion of the emulsion. The results of these experiments stress the possibility of using a fluorocarbon emulsion as a potential contrast medium in the brain and subarachnoid space, particularly after brain anoxia.

Animals↗

Interaction between a Solute Molecule and a Fluorocarbon Bonded Layer in Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.

Glassesand silica-gel packings modified with fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon silylation agents were prepared to investigate the separation mechanism of a fluorocarbon bonded layer in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). On the hydrocarbon layer the contact angles of benzene (Be) and hexafluorobenzene (FB) decreased with increasing carbon chain length of the modifier, and the mobile phase (MP) was independent of the modifier. The fluorocarbon layer gave a larger contact angle for each liquid than the hydrocarbon layer. The retention factor, k, of Be and FB on hydrocarbon packings increased with decreasing contact angle. It was demonstrated that the separation of Be and FB on hydrocarbon packings is caused by solvophobic interaction between solute molecules and the stationary layer. In contrast, k increased with increasing contact angle at the fluorocarbon layer. The retention of Be and FB on fluorocarbon packings may be attributed to the penetration of the solute molecules from the mobile phase into the fluorocarbon stationary layer. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗

Fluorocarbon Surfactant Polymers: Effect of Perfluorocarbon Branch Density on Surface Active Properties.

We describe a series of fluorocarbon surfactant polymers designed for modifying fluorocarbon surfaces such as poly(tetrafluoroethylene). Novel fluorocarbon surfactant polymers poly(N-vinyldextranaldonamide-co-N-vinylperfluoroundecanamide), in which hydrophilic dextran oligosaccharides and hydrophobic perfluoroundecanoyl groups were incorporated sequentially onto a poly(vinylamine) backbone, were synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, NMR, and XPS spectroscopy. By adjusting the feed ratio of dextran to fluorocarbon branches, surfactant polymers with different hydrophilic/hydrophobic balances were prepared. The surface activity of the surfactants at the air/water interface was demonstrated by significant reductions in water surface tension. Surfactant adsorption and adhesion at the solid PTFE/aqueous interface were examined under well-defined dynamic flow conditions, using a rotating disk system. The surface activity at the air/water interface and adhesion stability on PTFE under an applied shear stress both increase with increasing density of fluorocarbon branches on the polymer backbone. The results show that stable surfactant adhesion on PTFE can be achieved by adjusting the hydrophilic dextran to hydrophobic fluorocarbon branch ratio.

Journal Article↗

Determination of fluorocarbon in blood.

Because fluorocarbons can dissolve relatively large quantities of oxygen and carbon dioxide, there is considerable interest in utilizing them to develop new methods of extracorporael circulation, artificial red blood cells, and liquid breathing techniques. A method for the assay of fluorocarbon in blood is presented. The fluorocarbon is extracted from the blood with toluene, and fluoride is released from the fluorocarbon in the toluene extract by reaction with sodium biphenyl. The inorganic fluoride is then extracted with aqueous sodium acetate, the pH of the extract is adjusted, and the activity of the fluoride ion is read with a fluoride-specific ion electrode. The assay was effective for fluorocarbon concentrations in the range of 1 to 30 ppm.

Biphenyl Compounds↗

Peripheral vascular responses to fluorocarbon administration.

To detect the local effect of hyperoxia on skeletal muscle vasculature, 2.5-ml boluses of oxygenated or deoxygenated fluorocarbon emulsion (F-O2 or F-N2) were washed through the hindlimb of anesthetized dogs at prevailing arterial pressure. Instantaneous hematocrit changes at the outflow were registered and stored in digital form with the red cells serving as the nondiffusible tracer in the resulting washout curves. A gamma density function was fitted and the gamma index (1/square root of alpha) was derived as a measure of skewness or perfusion heterogeneity. After recovery from the initial hypotensive reaction to fluorocarbon emulsion, washout curves for F-O2 and F-N2 were registered and blood samples were taken during 40 min of normoxia followed by 40 min of hypoxic hypoxia. The initial reaction to fluorocarbon significantly increased the gamma index so that the experiments began with a high index of perfusion heterogeneity in the limb vasculature. No significant difference was seen between F-O2 and F-N2 in normoxia but F-O2 maintained greater heterogeneity during hypoxia. The increased heterogeneity observed after the fluorocarbon reaction correlated highly with the severity of the hypotensive reaction which was also found to correlate inversely with the ability of the limb musculature to increase the O2 extraction ratio with onset of hypoxia. This blunting of microcirculatory reactivity to hyperoxia and hypoxia was attributed, in part, to the initial transient fluorocarbon reaction, possibly mediated by complement activation.

Animals↗

Fluorocarbons: a potential treatment of cerebral air embolism in open-heart surgery.

This study was designed to assess whether an oxygenated fluorocarbon solution could reduce ischemic brain damage related to arterial air embolism. Air embolism was produced by injecting air bubbles into the carotid artery of barbiturate-anesthetized rats breathing 100% oxygen. Results were assessed on electrocorticogram. In an additional set of experiments, mass spectrometry was used to provide continuous monitoring of intracerebral tissue oxygen (PO2) and carbon dioxide (PCO2) tensions and intermittent measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF). Fluorocarbon or saline solution (containing the emulsifying agent of fluorocarbons) was given intravenously after the initial air embolism (0.2 ml), and injections of air (0.1 ml) were repeated thereafter every five minutes. The maximal amount of air required to achieve complete and irreversible flattening of the electrocorticogram was 1.60 +/- 0.06 ml (mean +/- standard error of the mean) in the saline-treated rats and 5.20 +/- 0.44 ml in the fluorocarbon-treated group (p less than 10(-7)). In the second experiment, air embolism caused CBF to rise in both groups, the average percent of increase being higher in treated (41.6%) than in control animals (38.3%) (p less than 0.02). However, in the control group, the increase in CBF did not prevent intracerebral tissue PO2 from decreasing by 7.4 +/- 7.0% over the same period; conversely, in the fluorocarbon group, PO2 levels fell by only 2.5 +/- 3.7% (p less than 0.001 versus controls), but this time-averaged percentage was calculated over a longer period of cumulative ischemia because of the greater number of air emboli tolerated by treated animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Fluorocarbon nanoparticles as multifunctional drug delivery vehicles.

The history and current status of fluorocarbon nanoparticles in biomedicine is briefly reviewed. The deficiencies of current fluorocarbon nanoparticle formulations are highlighted. Strategies to remedy such deficiencies and to functionalize fluorocarbon nanoparticles are presented. Potential applications of fluorocarbon nanoparticles as multifunctional drug delivery vehicles are discussed. The strength of fluorocarbon nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles is that they integrate drug delivery with non-invasive MR imaging so that the biodistribution of the pharmaceutical entity (drug + delivery vehicle) can be monitored in real time. This, in turn, permits the physician to adjust treatment plan for each patient based on his/her actual response to the ongoing treatment.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗

Assessment of a 35% fluorocarbon emulsion.

We have previously reported on the efficacy of a 20% fluorocarbon emulsion (Fluosol-DA, 20%) as an acellular O2 carrier at an FIO2 = 1.0. We are concerned, however, about the potential O2 toxicity that may result from extended exposure to FIO2 = 1.0. The O2 content of the fluorocarbon phase is linearly related to both the FIO2 and the fluorocarbon concentration (Fct). It should therefore be possible to maintain the same O2 content by raising the Fct using a higher fluorocarbon concentration and lowering the FIO2. The purpose of this report is to assess the ability of a 35% fluorocarbon emulsion (Fluosol-DA, 35%) at an FIO2 = 0.6 to support hemodynamics and O2 transport. Five adult baboons were paralyzed, anesthetized, intubated, and mechanically ventilated at FIO2 = 0.6. An isovolemic total exchange transfusion (E.T.) with Fluosol-DA, 35% was performed. Measurements were made at Hct's of 20, 10, 5, and less than 2%. All animals survived the exchange. Total arterial O2 content fell from 17.4 +/- 0.7 to 3.3 +/- 0.2 vol% (p less than 0.01), and O2 delivery decreased from 21.8 +/- 2.2 to 5.1 +/- 0.7 cc/min-kg (p less than 0.01) during the exchange. There was no significant change in MAP, H.R., C.O., or VO2 during the exchange transfusion. Fluosol-DA, 35% maintains normal hemodynamics and O2 transport despite a marked fall in arterial O2 content and total O2 delivery. Fluosol-DA, 35% is thus an effective O2 carrier at the safe FIO2 of 0.6.

Animals↗