Abstract: Heterocyclic diones of the class containing 3-(heteroarylalkylene)- and 3(arylalkylene)-2, 4 (3H, 5H)-furandiones, and 3-(heteroarylalkylene)-pyrrolidene diones and -thiophene diones are disclosed as being effective cancer chemotherapy drugs, some of which are themselves novel compounds. Various members of this class were tested both in vitro and in vivo to demonstrate their effectiveness at reducing or inhibiting cancer tumor cells. The class of drugs was evaluated against a series of 10 human tumors in the in vitro Human Tumor Cell Assay procedure. The procedure indicates that this class of heterocyclic diones is effective against a broad variety of types of cancer and has little or no toxic effects based upon hematological and pathological evaluations.

Abstract: A method of introducing effectively non-anionic agents into mammalian red blood cells without unacceptable loss of cell contents, utilizing an osmotic pulse technique wherein an aqueous diluent medium is provided containing the desired effectively non-anionic agent(s) and an effective amount of water-soluble polyanion. The polyanion is non-disruptive to the lipid outer membranes of red blood cells and contains at least two anionic moieties per molecule.

Abstract: A process and medium are disclosed for the lyophilization of red blood cells which comprises the use of solutions including monosaccharide hexoses and pentoses, biocompatible polymers and polyanions to permit the reconstitution of viable red blood cells.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for creating reversible intracellular hypertonicity in red blood cells of mammals in order to introduce desired materials into the cells or achieve therapeutically desirable changes in the characteristics of intracellular hemoglobin. A packed red blood cell fraction is incubated in a solution containing a compound which readily diffuses into and out of the cells; a trans-membrane osmotic gradient is rapidly created by contacting the cells with a near-isotonic aqueous medium with or without a desired agent to be introduced, causing diffusion of water into the cells with consequent swelling thereof and permitting diffusion of said compound out of the cells; and the cells are then separated and washed to obtain a sterile fraction of substantially intact cells.