Figure 1
From: Polymerized albumin restores impaired hemodynamics in endotoxemia and polymicrobial sepsis
Polymerized human serum albumin synthesis and application as a plasma substitute. (a) Human serum albumin (HSA) (1) is reacted with glutaraldehyde to form polymerized HSA (PolyHSA) (2). (b) When transfused, unmodified HSA intermingles with red blood cells (RBCs) in the RBC rich core (6) and the RBC depleted plasma layer (5). Due to its small hydrodynamic diameter, HSA is able to easily extravasate through endothelial cell–cell junctions (4) and smooth muscle cell layers (3), which results in reduced circulatory half-life and tissue edema. (c) The increased hydrodynamic diameter of PolyHSA leads to increased vascular retention and blood viscosity.
