#$%^&*AU2017202175A120170420.pdf#####Biodegradable Nanoparticles as Novel Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers and Methods of Using the Same ABSTRACT Compositions of matter and methods for making, storing and administering artificial blood substitutes. Artificial blood substitutes may have oxygen carriers that encapsulate an oxygen-binding compound in a polymer vesicle. Oxygen-binding compounds may include hemoglobin, myoglobin, or other oxygen binding compounds having characteristics similar to hemoglobin. Oxygen carriers may include nanoparticles, polymers and/or polymersomes comprising of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(c-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) and related diblock copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(y-methyl c-caprolactone) (PEO-bPMCL). The oxygen carrier composition , inclides a polymersome comprising a plurality of block copolymer chains, wherein each block copolymer chain comprises at least one hydrophilic polymer block at least one hydrophobic polymer block and an oxygen-binding compound containing a heme group.
