Copolymerization of recombinant <i>Phascolopsis</i> <i>gouldii</i> hemerythrin with human serum albumin for use in blood substitutes

<p>Hemerythrin is an oxygen-carrying protein found in marine invertebrates and may be a promising alternative to hemoglobin for use in blood substitutes, primarily due to its negligible peroxidative toxicity. Previous studies have shown that glutaraldehyde-induced copolymerization of hemoglobin with bovine serum albumin increases the half-life of the active <i>oxy</i> form of hemoglobin (i.e. decreases the auto-oxidation rate). Here, we describe a protocol for glutaraldehyde copolymerization of Hr with human serum albumin and the dioxygen-binding properties of the co-polymerized products. The copolymerization with HSA results in alteration of hemerythrin’s dioxygen-binding properties in directions that may be favorable for use in blood substitutes.</p