Perfluoro ''tert''-butylcyclohexane is a
perfluorinated chemical compound (or perfluorocarbon, PFC). It is a component of the experimental
therapeutic oxygen carrier called Oxycyte.
Chemical properties
Perfluoro ''tert''-butylcyclohexane is a
saturated
Saturation, saturated, unsaturation or unsaturated may refer to:
Chemistry
* Saturation, a property of organic compounds referring to carbon-carbon bonds
** Saturated and unsaturated compounds
**Degree of unsaturation
** Saturated fat or fatty ac ...
alicyclic perfluorocarbon with the molecular formula C
10F
20.
Fluorocarbons are known for their strong gas-dissolving properties which, when used with oxygen, fill a dual role of healing the tissue as well as
imaging
Imaging is the representation or reproduction of an object's form; especially a visual representation (i.e., the formation of an image).
Imaging technology is the application of materials and methods to create, preserve, or duplicate images.
...
. It fits the imaging role promisingly due to its biocompatibility and half-life. A similar compound,
perfluorobutane
Perfluorobutane (PFB) is an inert, high-density colorless gas. It is a simple fluorocarbon with a butane, ''n''-butane skeleton and all the hydrogen atoms replaced with fluorine atoms.
Uses
Perfluorobutane can replace Halon 1301 in fire extinguis ...
, is already used for ultrasound imaging.
Healing decompression sickness with oxygen has a similar mechanism of action to healing brain
anemia
Anemia or anaemia (British English) is a blood disorder in which the blood has a reduced ability to carry oxygen due to a lower than normal number of red blood cells, or a reduction in the amount of hemoglobin. When anemia comes on slowly, t ...
, and so Oxycyte can be used for this.
Oxycyte
Oxycyte was invented by
Leland Clark
Leland C. Clark Jr. (December 4, 1918 – September 25, 2005) was an American biochemist born in Rochester, New York. He is most well known as the inventor of the Clark electrode, a device used for measuring oxygen in blood, water and other liquid ...
and developed by Tenax Therapeutics (formerly Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc. and Synthetic Blood International). It is designed to enhance oxygen delivery to damaged tissues. Through a collaborative agreement, Oxycyte (under the development code name of ABL-101) was being developed by Aurum Biosciences Ltd, with an initial indication in acute ischemic stroke. According to Tenax, Oxycyte can carry oxygen with up to 5 times the efficiency of
hemoglobin
Hemoglobin (haemoglobin BrE) (from the Greek word αἷμα, ''haîma'' 'blood' + Latin ''globus'' 'ball, sphere' + ''-in'') (), abbreviated Hb or Hgb, is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein present in red blood cells (erythrocyt ...
when used as an intravenous emulsion, making it an effective means of transporting oxygen to tissues and carrying carbon dioxide to the lungs for disposal. However, because Oxycyte is a PFC and not based on hemoglobin, it does not have the safety issues associated with hemoglobin-based products; there have been no adverse events in company clinical trials related to Oxycyte. Tenax believed Oxycyte has a very favorable risk-benefit profile for its potential indications.
Aurum Biosciences promoted Oxycyte as having potential for use in multiple indications, including cardiology, oncology, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases. These claims caused excitement among investors and greatly raised Tenax's stock price, which hasn't come close since.
Around September 2004, Oxycyte finished Phase I trials with few mild side effects. Clinical interest in Oxycyte began to grow during this period, culminating in 2013.
Aurum Biosciences had received Wellcome Trust HICF funding to take Oxycyte into a phase IIa clinical trial in stroke patients. This work investigated both therapeutic potential and its ability to enhance the diagnostic potential of MRI in stroke.
However, Oxygen Biotherapeutics announced in September 2014 that it would discontinue a Phase IIb trial for its Oxycyte drug candidate, citing "difficulties enrolling patients". Interest in Oxycyte has tapered off since,
and is mostly documented as an investment venture.
Care should be taken about the blood with this compound, as it's associated with potentially dangerous variations in the blood, like viscosity.
[{{cite journal , vauthors = Arnaud F, Sanders K, Sieckmann D, Moon-Massat P , title = In vitro alteration of hematological parameters and blood viscosity by the perfluorocarbon: Oxycyte , journal = International Journal of Hematology , volume = 103 , issue = 5 , pages = 584–591 , date = May 2016 , pmid = 26886450 , doi = 10.1007/s12185-016-1955-9 , s2cid = 19287551 ]
References
External links
Drugbank DB12477: Perfluoro tert-butylcyclohexane
Blood substitutes
Perfluorinated compounds