Polyhemoglobin-superoxide dismutase-catalase as a blood substitute with antioxidant properties.

Polyhemoglobin-superoxide dismutase-catalase is designed to function as an oxygen carrier with antioxidant properties. This is based on cross-linking hemoglobin with superoxide dismutase and catalase (PolyHb-SOD-CAT). This study describes the structural and antioxidant properties of this solution. Our studies show that superoxide dismutase and catalase retain their enzymatic activity following glutaraldehyde polymerization with 8:1 and 16:1 glutaraldehyde:hemoglobin ratio. We have analyzed the optimal SOD/CAT ratios to prevent oxidation of hemoglobin in the presence of oxygen free radicals. The circulation half-life of crosslinked hemoglobin, SOD, and catalase in Sprague-Dawley rats correlates with the degree of polymerization as determined by high-performance molecular weight gel filtration. PolyHb-SOD-CAT decreases the formation of oxygen radicals compared with PolyHb in a rat intestinal ischemia-reperfusion model.