# Peritoneal Oxygen Delivery For The Treatment Of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO · 2021 · $582,241

## Abstract

Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs in approximately 10% of patients entering
the intensive care unit, affecting nearly 190,000 patients per year in the US alone. The initiation of ARDS is
multifactorial but often results in an inability to oxygenate the patient using conventional ventilation methods.
Despite the use of different ventilator modes and various inhalational agents, patient proning etc., approximately
30-50% of ARDS cases end in mortality. The ultimate aim of pulmonary support is to cause the least damage to
the lung parenchyma while it heals; with this in mind, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been
used in the most severe cases, when other means have failed. Unfortunately, ECMO also has a substantial
contraindication list and risk profile, which in part is driven by the need for full anticoagulation while the patient
is on the circuit. For a large portion of patients – traumatically injured patients, in particular – full anticoagulation
carries the risk of uncontrolled hemorrhage in the brain or other organs affected by trauma. We therefore continue
to search for effective means of resting the lungs while supporting the oxygenation and ventilation needs of the
patient. Oxygen microbubbles (OMBs) have shown promise as a method of extra-pulmonary oxygenation that
is safe, versatile and does not require use of anticoagulants. Our work is innovative as it explores a novel method
for extra-pulmonary oxygenation using body cavities, such as the peritoneal cavity. This could have a significant
impact on the field of trauma care in situations where anticoagulants cannot be used, as well as in settings where
ECMO technology is not readily accessible or practical. We have shown in small-animal models of ARDS induced
by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and smoke inhalation (SI) that an intraperitoneal injection of OMBs improves
peripheral oxygenation saturation by 10-15% to normoxic levels, as well as survival and lung health. While our
preliminary studies have shown favorable improvements in oxygenation and survival in a preliminary lipid-based
formulation, it is unclear that this chemistry is the optimal formulation for intraperitoneal delivery.
 The goal of this research project is to develop, characterize and test alternative OMB formulations based
on different lipids, lung surfactant, protein and sugar shells. The first aim will determine pharmacokinetic
parameters for novel OMB formulations. We will perform a “deep dive” design analysis of four different shell
types: characterizing mass transfer properties, gas-exchange phenomena and in vivo persistence in the
peritoneal cavity. The second aim will use a novel electrode-phosphorescence method to measure OMB dose
response and effects on muscle microvascular O2 supply in local tissue. The third aim will test the new OMB
formulations in rodent and pig models of LPS-ARDS. Finally, the fourth aim will Test new OMB formulations in
rodent and pig models of SI-ARDS. Ov...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10102277
- **Project number:** 5R01HL151151-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
- **Principal Investigator:** Mark Andrew Borden
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $582,241
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-02-09 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10102277

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10102277, Peritoneal Oxygen Delivery For The Treatment Of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (5R01HL151151-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10102277. Licensed CC0.

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