Hemoglobin-inulin conjugate as an oxygen carrying blood substitute.

Pyridoxylated hemoglobin was modified with the activated ester of inulin. From the oxygen equilibrium curve, this conjugate was estimated to have about fivefold oxygen carrying capacity compared with a free hemoglobin. The half disappearance time of this conjugate in the circulation of a rat was 21 hours in contrast to 3 hours of a free hemoglobin. The oncotic pressure and the viscosity can be adjusted nearly equal to those of whole blood. This conjugate can be concluded to have sufficient properties for use as a blood substitute.