Attempts to use carbodiimide (EDCI) to cross-link hemoglobin for transfusions.
The polymerization of hemoglobin for use as a blood substitute and an oxygen carrier would be of interest because high-mol. wt macromolecules would have a longer vascular retention time than the monomer. We found that the molecules resulting from the treatment of hemoglobin with ethyldimethylaminopropylcarbodiimide did not have a higher mol. wt than free hemoglobin and also had a dissociation curve resembling that of monomers, but seemed more stable.
D002234:Carbodiimides; D005022:Ethyldimethylaminopropyl Carbodiimide; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D010952:Plasma Substitutes / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D014783:Viscosity
D002234:Carbodiimides; D006454:Hemoglobins; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D010952:Plasma Substitutes; D011108:Polymers; D005022:Ethyldimethylaminopropyl Carbodiimide