Gavage approach to oxygen supplementation with oxygen therapeutic Ox66™ in a hypoventilation rodent model of respiratory distress.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) features pulmonary dysfunction capable of causing life-threatening hypoxaemia. Ventilation and hyperoxic therapies force oxygen through dysfunctional alveoli but risk exacerbating damage. Ox66™ is an ingestible, solid-state oxygen product designed for oxygen supplementation. Eighteen anaesthetized, ventilated rats were subjected to a 40% reduction in tidal volume to produce a hypoventilatory simulation of the hypoxia in ARDS (HV-ARDS). After 60 min, animals were randomized to receive either normal saline (Saline; volume control) or Ox66 gavage. Cardiovascular function and blood oximetry/chemistry were measured alongside interstitial oxygenation (PO) of the peripheral spinotrapezius muscle. HV-ARDS reduced mean arterial pressure by ∼20% and PO by ∼35% for both groups. Ox66 gavage treatment at 60 min improved PO over Saline ( < .0001), restoring baseline values, however, the effect was temporary. A second bolus at 120 min repeated the OX66 PO response, which remained elevated over Saline ( < .01) until study end and was supported by systemic parameters of lactate, PO, SO, and base deficit. Saline remained hypotensive, whereas Ox66 became normotensive. Vasoconstriction was observed in the Saline, but not Ox66 group. Supplemental oxygenation through Ox66 gavage increased peripheral tissue oxygenation, warranting further study for disorders featuring dysfunction of pulmonary perfusion like ARDS.