Polynitroxylated pegylated hemoglobin (PNPH): A nanomedicine for critical care and transfusion

Abstract

Polynitroxylated pegylated hemoglobin (PNPH, VitalHeme™, SynZyme Technologies LLC, Irvine, CA) is a pegylated hemoglobin covalently labeled with catalytic nitroxides, aka caged nitric oxide (cNO). PNPH serves as a hyperoncotic biopolymer coated and redox transformed hemoglobin acting in the plasma phase as a neurovascular protective multifunctional nanomedicine. This drug is for the correction or prevention of inadequate regional and/or global blood flow without oxidative stress under normal or hypovolemic states in critical care and transfusion medicine. Specific clinical indications for which PNPH has shown efficacy are traumatic brain injury complicated by hemorrhagic shock, stroke, and sickle cell disease. PNPH may also be an ideal alternative to aged red blood cells and a bridge to transfusion.