Cross-linked human serum albumin dimer has the potential for use as a plasma-retaining agent for the fatty acid-conjugated antidiabetic drugs.

Objectives: The half-life of fatty acid-conjugated antidiabetic drugs are prolonged through binding to albumin, but this may not occur in diabetic patients with nephropathy complicated with hypoalbuminemia. We previously showed that human serum albumin (HSA) dimerized at the protein's Cys34 by 1,6-bis(maleimido)hexane has longer half-life than the monomer under high permeability conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the superior ability of this HSA dimer as a plasma-retaining agent for fatty acid conjugated antidiabetic drugs.

Possible false-negative results on therapeutic drug monitoring of phenytoin using a particle enhanced turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay in a patient with a high level of IgM.

: In this report, the authors described the unusual case of a patient in whom the plasma phenytoin concentration was unexpectedly not detected on a particle-enhanced turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay (PETINIA) technique, a typical immunoassay for phenytoin. The plasma concentration was measured using PETINIA and high-performance liquid chromatography in a 69-year-old male patient treated with fosphenytoin intravenously at the standard dose for 7 days. Although the plasma concentration of phenytoin was below the limit of detection (<0.

Superior plasma retention of a cross-linked human serum albumin dimer in nephrotic rats as a new type of plasma expander.

Human serum albumin (HSA) is used clinically as a plasma expander in patients with hypoalbuminemia and can also function as a drug carrier. However, the administered HSA is readily eliminated from the blood circulation under pathological conditions, especially the nephrotic syndrome. In this study, we present data on the pharmacokinetics of a structurally defined HSA dimer [two HSA molecules that are cross-linked by reaction with 1,6-bis(maleimido)hexane via Cys34] in nephrotic rats and its superior circulation persistence, owing to the molecular size effect.

Hemoglobin vesicles, polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated liposomes developed as a red blood cell substitute, do not induce the accelerated blood clearance phenomenon in mice.

The hemoglobin vesicle (HbV) is an artificial oxygen carrier encapsulating a concentrated hemoglobin solution in a liposome of which the surface is covered with polyethylene glycol (PEG). It was recently reported that repeated injections of PEGylated liposomes induce the accelerated blood clearance (ABC) phenomenon, in which serum anti-PEG IgM plays an essential role. To examine this issue, we investigated whether HbV induces the ABC phenomenon in mice at a dose of 0.

Pharmacokinetic study of enclosed hemoglobin and outer lipid component after the administration of hemoglobin vesicles as an artificial oxygen carrier.

The hemoglobin vesicle (HbV) is an artificial oxygen carrier that encapsulates a concentrated Hb solution in lipid vesicles (liposomes). The pharmacokinetic properties of HbV were investigated in mice and rats. With use of HbV in which the internal Hb was labeled with (125)I ((125)I-HbV) and cell-free (125)I-Hb, it was found that encapsulation of Hb increased the half-life by 30 times, accompanied by decreased distribution in both the liver and kidney.