The history of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers: a narrative review

Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) are compounds designed to allow for oxygen-carrying capacity and tissue delivery without the red blood cell (RBC) compatibility concerns, storage constraints, side effects, and adverse outcome profile of allogeneic blood products. Significant investments in time, resources, intellect, and hope have been made in HBOC development over the past ninety years. This narrative review describes the history of HBOC development.