PFC for Oxygen Delivery to Skin

By: Katie Schaefer, Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine

Posted: December 1, 2009, from the December 2009 issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries.

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While he cannot disclose the composition of the gel, Grossman maintains it is a simple combination of surfactants and water with the maximum use level of FtBu. A gel form was chosen for the product due to its absorption ability, and Grossman notes that the size of the FtBu molecule does not inhibit its absorption. “Oxycyte is a small and dense molecule, so it absorbs quickly into the skin. It is [also] non-volatile, so it doesn’t evaporate like alcohol.”

Aside from its oxygen delivery benefits, the gel is said to moisturize, reduce the appearance of fine lines and promote healthy-looking skin. Grossman adds that users of the gel should experience uniform oxygen absorption regardless of their global location, since atmospheric oxygen is 21% of the air that humans breathe.

Other Uses for FtBu
As noted, the use of FtBu in a topical gel is but one of many. Its gas-carrying ability can be used to treat decompression sickness. “In decompression sickness, Oxycyte is used to dissolve nitrogen [that is] bubbled in the blood to carry it harmlessly to the lungs where it can safely be dispelled.” The company also is in the second phase of clinical trials in Switzerland and Israel to examine the use of intravenous FtBu as an emergency treatment for traumatic brain injuries. “In the case of traumatic brain injury, Oxycyte carries the oxygen to the location in the brain that isn’t receiving oxygen, saving the tissue from necrosis,” said Grossman, who added that the FtBu molecule is much smaller than red blood cells yet has a higher gas-carrying ability than hemoglobin, thus allowing it to deliver oxygen to areas of the body where red blood cells cannot enter.

Clark’s work on the FtBu as a liquid breathing material suggests its use to transfer oxygen into the lungs, which has led to research exploring its use for the treatment of premature babies who do not have enough surfactant in their lungs to successfully breathe on their own.

While other applications are under investigation, the topical gel currently is the only product commercially available and Grossman finds FtBu to supersede all other materials in its ability to carry oxygen.