Development of a perfluorochemical emulsion as a blood gas carrier.

Over 10 years of research has led to the development of a perfluorochemical (PFC) emulsion that can be utilized clinically as a blood gas carrier. The physiochemical properties of this PFC emulsion and their biophysiological effects on animals meet the minimum requirements of an oxygen transport medium. As PFC is chemically and biochemically inert, its toxicity is extremely low. Acute toxicity was related chiefly to the particle size of the emulsion. PFC particles injected intravenously are phagocytized in the reticuloendothelial system as foreign bodies and are excreted from the lungs. The excretion rate was roughly proportional to the vapor pressure of each PFC. An emulsion consisting of 7 parts perfluorodecalin and 3 parts perfluorotripropylamine, 20% (wt/vol) PFC final, Fluosol-DA 20%, was selected as the best formulation in view of efficacy, stability, and excretion rate. No untoward reactions were observed after administration of this emulsion. More than 400 patients have received intravenous Fluosol-DA 20% in Japan.