Synthetic whole blood and a method of making the same

Abstract

A composition and a method of making a whole blood substitute are disclosed. The claimed invention duplicates the two phase heterogeneous physico-chemical system of natural whole blood and accordingly, is capable of carrying out virtually all of the physiological functions of whole blood. Albumin dispersed in a solution composed of distilled water, sodium chloride and urea, and to which a surface active agent such as lecithin is subsequently added, constitutes the preferred method of preparing the two phase aqueous liquid system on which this invention is based. Other ingredients necessary to the manufacture of the claimed composition of matter include stroma free hemoglobin, an apppropriate sterol, electrolytes and proteins. Emulsification of the two phase aqueous liquid system and the additives given immediately above completes the preparation of the claimed synthetic whole blood. The method of manufacture described in this disclosure also provides for the separation of the phases of the two phase aqueous liquid system. Separation of the coacervate phase from the external equilibrium phase may be carried out prior to the introduction of the additives referred to above. In the preferred procedure, separation takes place after emulsification has been completed. Introduction of the claimed synthetic whole blood into the circulation is accomplished through intravenous transfusion. When introduced into the circulation, the coacervate phase of this invention will serve the functions of normally occurring hematocrit.