Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers

Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) are synthetic or modified blood substitutes designed to deliver oxygen in situations where blood transfusions aren’t possible or sufficient. They utilize hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, but are formulated to be safe outside the body’s cells. HBOCs can help patients who lose blood, surgery patients, or those with blood disorders, by providing oxygen directly through the bloodstream. They are developed to mimic natural blood’s oxygen transport ability, aiming to improve emergency care when traditional blood supplies are unavailable or incompatible.