Every day, thousands of patients receive erythrocyte concentrates (ECs). They are indispensable for modern medicine, despite their limited resource. Artificial oxygen carriers (AOCs) represent a promising approach to reduce the need for ECs. One form of AOCs is perfluorodecalin-filled albumin-based nanocapsules. However, these AOCs are not storable and need to be applied directly after production. In this condition, they are not suitable as a medicinal product for practical use yet. Lyophilization (freeze drying) could provide the possibility of durable and applicable nanocapsules. In the present study, a suitable lyophilization process for perfluorodecalin-filled nanocapsules was developed. The nanocapsules were physicochemically characterized regarding capsule size, polydispersity, and oxygen capacity. Even though the perfluorodecalin-filled albumin-based nanocapsules showed a loss in oxygen capacity directly after lyophilization, they still provided a remarkable residual capacity. This capacity did not decline further for over two months of storage. Furthermore, the nanocapsule size remained unaltered for over one year. Therefore, the AOCs were still applicable and functional after long-term storage due to the successful lyophilization.
Keywords: blood substitutes; drug storage; freeze drying; human serum albumin; lyophilization; nanocapsules; perfluorodecalin.