Hemoglobin conjugated micelles based on triblock biodegradable polymers as artificial oxygen carriers

An artificial oxygen carrier is constructed by conjugating hemoglobin molecules to biodegradable micelles. Firstly a series of triblock copolymers (PEG–PMPC–PLA) in which the middle block contains pendant propargyl groups were synthesized and characterized. After the amphiphilic copolymer was self-assembled into core-shell micelles in aqueous solution, azidized hemoglobin molecules protected by carbon monoxide (CO) were conjugated to the micelles via click reaction between the propargyl and azido groups. The conjugation causes an increase of the micelle's mean diameter. Maximum conjugation ratio is 250 wt% in the hemoglobin-conjugated micelles (HCMs). Oxygen-binding ability of the HCMs was demonstrated by converting the CO-binding state of the HCMs into O2-binding state.