Carbide-derived-carbon-based oxygen carriers

Abstract

An oxygen delivery system is disclosed. The basis of the oxygen deliver system is a carbide-derived carbon (CDC). The CDC can be tuned to carry O 2 directly (CDC OC), or hemoglobin can be adsorbed to provide a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (CDC HBOC). The delivery system allows the use of a variety of hemoglobins which differ in their oxygen dissociation profiles, including variant and mutant hemoglobins from other species. The delivery system is biocompatible and stable, and is able to irreversibly bind and hold large amounts of functional hemoglobin variants. The CDC HBOC and CDC OC provide a safe and effective blood substitute for combat casualty care, as well as being useful for oxygen delivery in other contexts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of delivering oxygen to tissues in a human subject, comprising administering a formulation of either carbon-derived carbide to which hemoglobin is irreversibly adsorbed, or a formulation of carbon-derived carbide in which pore size is tuned to reversibly adsorb O 2 . 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the formulation includes an enteric coated shell which dissolves at the pH of the small intestine. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the formulation is a nebulized inhalant. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the formulation is a powder which is administered topically. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the formulation comprises a physiologically suitable carrier for parenteral administration.