Advanced oxygen therapeutics for treatments of acute hemorrhagic shock and organ preservation

Oxygen (O 2 ) is vital in respiratory process that maintains biological balance in mammals. O 2 therapeutics treat ischemic tissues by facilitating O 2 transport and alleviating cellular hypoxia. The development of O 2 carriers focuses on their interactions with molecular O 2 to achieve therapeutic effects. This review examines the distinct O 2 -carrying mechanisms of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) and fluorocarbon-based oxygen carriers (FBOCs), emphasizing their chemical and physical differences. The rational design of O 2 carriers for biomedical applications and recent research advances are discussed, focusing on their therapeutic use in acute hemorrhagic shock and organ preservation. Moreover, this review highlights the need to explore the biomedical mechanisms underlying O 2 therapeutics further, offering insights for improving O 2 -carrying capacity and optimizing their applications in medicine. • Mitigating hypoxic injury resulting from hemorrhagic shock and organ preservation continues to pose a significant challenge. • Oxygen therapies offer an innovative approach with high oxygen affinity, enabling targeted treatment of hypoxia. • Hemoglobin-based and fluorocarbon-based oxygen carriers are emerging as promising therapies for hypoxia management. • Modifying oxygen carriers effectively improves oxygen affinity, thereby enhancing oxygen release in pathological areas. • Enhancing the oxygen-carrying capacity of oxygen carriers is crucial for optimizing their clinical applications.