A well-defined bovine polyhemoglobin was prepared by dimethyl adipimidate (DMA) and glutaraldehyde double cross-linkage method. DMA was used to block some amino groups of hemoglobin, followed by further polymerization with glutaraldehyde. The amino modification degree of hemoglobin was 32% when DMA reacted with hemoglobin at the molar ratio of 200. The bovine polyhemoglobin with narrow molecular weight distribution (mainly 128 kDa) was obtained when glutaraldehyde reacted with DMA-modified hemoglobin. The P-50 and the Hill coefficient for DMA-modified hemoglobin were 19.4 mm Hg and 2.28, respectively, while those for the bovine polyhemoglobin were 15.1 mm Hg and 1.70, respectively. The number of Bohr protons released for DMA-modified hemoglobin and the poly hemoglobin was 0.86 and 0.56 H/tetramer, respectively. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.