Biodegradable polymer membrane containing hemoglobin for blood substitute

Abstract

The present invention relates to the production of a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer membrane comprising the steps of: a) mixing a polymer selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and polylactide-co-glycolide with a pharmaceutically acceptable surfactant; b) emulsifying an hemoglobin solution in the mixed solution of step a) to form particles of polymer membrane containing hemoglobin; c) solidifying the particles of step b) by adding cyclohexane; d) separating the solidified particles of step c) by centrifugation; and e) suspending the particles of step d) in a saline solution. In addition another approach uses alcohol-acetone. The biocompatible and biodegradable polymer membrane in accordance with the present invention contains from about 25 to 35% by weight of hemoglobin and has an average diameter from about 0.07 to 1.1.mu., preferably a submicron diameter of less than 0.2.mu..

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.