Biocompatible, stable and concentrated fluorocarbon emulsions for

Abstract

An up to 125% fluorocarbon emulsion for use in or with animal bodies and organs thereof, maintains emulsion stability through normal sterilization procedures with selective osmotic and buffering agents, maintains the emulsion at within predetermined osmolarity levels and, when desired, free of excessive calcium precipitation, reduces in vivo and in vitro red blood cell injury, reduces adverse anemia effects, reduces viscosity and reduces the rate of oxidation, and tends to equilibrate its distribution in major body organs thereby reducing toxicity. The osmotic agents may buffer and may provide nutrient in the form of sugars. The osmotic and buffering agents can comprise, selectively, hexahydric alcohols, namely mannitol and sorbitol; certain sugars, namely glucose, mannose and fructose; along with buffering agents that will affect osmolarity including imidazole, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, monobasic potassium phosphate, dibasic potassium phosphate, calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate, monobasic sodium phosphate, dibasic sodium phosphate or combinations of them. The emulsion may include tocopherol. A method of emulsifying the fluorocarbon includes forced flow impingement under pressure after mixing the fluorocarbon into the discontinuous phase. The fluorocarbon emulsion can be used to deliver drugs and medicines soluble in, or transportable by the emulsion.