(598d) Blood Purification Using Functionalized Core-Shell Nanomagnets

The rapid removal of pathogens or noxious metabolites circulating in the blood of a patient is the most direct cure imaginable. Currently, this is only possible via dialysis and plasma filtration, removing small molecules such as urea, potassium and creatinine. The majority of harmful substances, e.g. endo-/exotoxins in sepsis, antibodies and immune-complexes have to be currently removed via more complex chemical and systemic routes.

In this work we present the direct removal of harmful substances from human whole blood by the use of magnetic nanoparticles. For this purpose carbon coated metallic nanoparticles were covalently decorated with various functional groups, including heavy metal scavangers, fab-fragements and antibodies. We will present the applicability of the concept utilizing three examples: The removal of a heavy metal (lead), a steroid drug (digoxin) and a whole protein (Interleukin-6) was shown by spiking human whole blood with the contaminant and applying appropriately functionalized magnetic beads for the detoxification. The integrity of the blood was not affected by the process as depicted by monitoring a series of clinically important parameters. The presentation will also discuss further steps in the direction of a clinical application of the concept.

References:

I. K. Herrmann, M. Urner, F. M. Koehler, M. Hasler, B. Roth-Z'Graggen, R. N. Grass, U. Ziegler, B. Beck-Schimmer, W. J. Stark, Blood Purification Using Functionalized Core/Shell Nanomagnets, Small 2010, accepted.

Figure 1: Extracorporeal blood purification.