Compositions and methods utilizing nitroxides to avoid oxygen toxicity, particularly in stabilized, polymerized, conjugated, or encapsulated hemoglobin used as a red cell substitute

摘要

Compositions and processes to alleviate oxygen toxicity are disclosed based on the addition of nitroxides to physio-logically compatible macromolecules. In particular, hemoglobin-based red cell substitutes are described featuring stable nitroxide free radicals for use in cell-free hemoglobin solutions, encapsulated hemoglobin solutions, stabilized hemoglobin solutions, polymerized hemoglobin solutions, conjugated hemoglobin solutions, nitroxide-labelled albumin, and nitroxide-labelled immunoglobulin. The formulations described herein interact with free radicals, act as antioxidant enzyme-mimics, and alleviate oxidative stress and oxygen-related toxicity.