Methods for removing cytokines from blood with surface immobilized polysaccharides

摘要

The present invention is directed to a method for removing cytokines and/or pathogens from blood or blood serum (blood) by contacting the blood with a solid, essentially non microporous substrate which has been surface treated with heparin, heparan sulfate and/or other molecules or chemical groups (the adsorbent media or media) having a binding affinity for the cytokine or pathogen(s) to be removed (the adsorbates), and wherein the size of the interstitial channels within said media is balanced with the amount of media surface area and the surface concentration of binding sites on the media in order to provide adequate adsorptive capacity while also allowing relatively high flow rates of blood through the adsorbent media.

主权项

1. A method for removing at least one adsorbate selected from cytokines, pathogens and toxins from blood, the method comprising:
providing a device which comprises a container, said container comprising a solid substrate of high surface area having at least one polysaccharide adsorbent on the surface thereof with a binding affinity for the adsorbate, wherein said substrate is sufficiently solid such that the adsorbate does not pass through pores in said substrate, and wherein the size of interstitial channel spaces within said substrate is large enough to permit the transport of blood cells, and the amount of interstitial surface area within said substrate is such that when flowing blood is in contact with said substrate through said device, said cytokine, pathogen or toxin binds to binding sites on said at least one polysaccharide adsorbent, becoming separated from said blood and the transport of said adsorbates from blood to adsorbent sites on said substrate is primarily by convection transport, such that adsorbate binding does not require the Brownian diffusion of adsorbates into pores within said substrate, wherein blood is flowed through the device to remove at least one adsorbate.