perflubron

Perflubron is a perfluorocarbon (PFC) compound, specifically perfluorooctyl bromide, that has been developed for various medical applications due to its high density, low surface tension, and ability to dissolve large quantities of oxygen and carbon dioxide. It was originally developed by Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. As a diagnostic agent, it has been used as an oral contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the gastrointestinal tract and as an ultrasound contrast agent (branded as Imagent). In the therapeutic space, perflubron was developed as a synthetic oxygen carrier (blood substitute) under the name Oxygent to reduce the need for donor blood during surgery. Additionally, a liquid formulation called LiquiVent was investigated for liquid ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). While Imagent received FDA approval as an ultrasound contrast agent, the oxygen therapeutic and liquid ventilation applications faced clinical and regulatory hurdles and were eventually discontinued.

Brand names

ImagentOxygentLiquiVent

Other names

perfluorooctyl bromideperfluorooctylbromide1-bromo-1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptadecafluorooctane