Nanoparticles of perfluorocarbon emulsion contribute to the reduction of methemoglobin to oxyhemoglobin

Here we show that methemoglobin is converted to oxyhemoglobin in the presence of perfluorocarbon (PFС) emulsion. Methemoglobin in blood at the level of above 30% can cause severe complications and lethal outcome. Some pharm chemicals in blood in vivo and in vitro can lead to oxidation of iron, Fe2+ → Fe3+, and to increased level of methemoglobin. The oxidized heme is not able to carry oxygen, hypoxia arises and irreversible changes are developing in vital organs. We added NaNO2 solution in different concentrations to blood in vitro in order to yield methemoglobin. Then the suspension of PFC nanoparticles was added. As methemoglobin interacted with PFC nanoparticles the optical density of peaks typical for oxyhemoglobin increased and spectral peak of methemoglobin decreased. The greater the concentration of PFC and the more was the incubation time, the more efficient was the process of reduction of methemoglobin to oxyhemoglobin. We proved experimentally that with an initial concentration of methemoglobin ​in average 95% the addition of nanoparticles of PFC decreases its concentration to 9% ​in average. At the same time the concentration of oxyhemoglobin increased in average from 5% to 81%.

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