Do fluorocarbons substantially increase transdermal oxygen delivery? A proof-of-principle study in mice

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients who need intensive medical care often require oxygen ventilation, but the number of ventilation machines is limited, and in some parts of the world, they are not available at all. In addition to patients for whom there is no access to ventilation machines there is also a considerable population of patients for whom ventilation is not sufficient for them to survive a critical state. Methods: Here, we propose and test an alternative oxygen supply through accelerated transdermal oxygen delivery. Covering the entire body with liquid fluorocarbons, which can dissolve 20 times more oxygen than water, we hypothesized to increase the contribution of transcutaneous respiration by a sustained amount. Results: Experiments applying pure medical grade perfluorodecalin on nude mice did not change their oxygenation in the blood under induced hypoxic conditions compared to control mice. However, increases in blood oxygenation below 2% could not be detected with the applied method. Conclusions: We could not establish a proof-of-principle for a substantial increase in oxygen supply by transdermal oxygen delivery in mammals.