Freeze-Dried Human Red Blood Cells
Abstract
This progress report summarizes Cryopharm's basic red cell research since the last report submitted to the Naval Medical Research and Development Command on July 12,1991. As outlined in the Summary from the July 12, 1991 report, an initial clinical evaluation of in vivo circulation of autologous, lyophilized human red cells was undertaken to establish a baseline level of in vivo performance. The cell survival results suggested that the lyophilized reconstituted cells were removed intact from peripheral blood via a splenic sequestration route. We observed this mechanism of cell clearance by the body in spite of the high in vitro osmotic stability (about 80% survival of intact lyophilized cells when incubated in physiological saline) and improved cell deformability as measured by in vitro ektacytometry (lyophilized reconstituted cells exhibited some 65% of the peak elasticity normally seen in fresh red cells). Thus, although our lyophilized reconstituted red cells maintain normal levels of metabolic, cytoskeletal, and hemoglobin function, they do appear to sustain damage to their membranes which comprises deformability to an extent that their ability to pass-through small splenic or capillary sinuses is greatly reduced.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 08, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA242696