A novel human detoxification system based on nanoscale bioengineering and magnetic separation techniques

• Published in: Medical hypotheses Vol. 68; no. 5; pp. 1071 - 1079
• Main Authors: Chen, Haitao, Kaminski, Michael D, Liu, Xianqiao, Mertz, Carol J, Xie, Yumei, Torno, Michael D, Rosengart, Axel J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2007
• Subjects: Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biomedical Engineering - methods; Biotinylation; Cesium Radioisotopes; Filtration; Humans; Immunomagnetic Separation - instrumentation; Immunomagnetic Separation - methods; Injections, Intravenous; Internal Medicine; Lactic Acid - blood; Lactic Acid - chemistry; Magnetics; Microspheres; Models, Biological; Nanotechnology - instrumentation; Nanotechnology - methods; Nanotubes - chemistry; Nanotubes - toxicity; Particle Size; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Polyglycolic Acid - chemistry; Polymers - chemistry; Surface Properties
• ISSN: 0306-9877; 1532-2777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2005.04.047

Summary We describe the conceptual approach, theoretical background and preliminary experimental data of a proposed platform technology for specific and rapid decorporation of blood-borne toxins from humans. The technology is designed for future emergent in-field or in-hospital detoxification of large numbers of biohazard-exposed victims; for example, after radiological attacks. The proposed systems is based on nanoscale technology employing biocompatible, superparamagnetic nanospheres, which are functionalized with target-specific antitoxin receptors, and freely circulate within the human blood stream after simple intravenous injection. Sequestration of the blood-borne toxins onto the nanosphere receptors generates circulating nanosphere-toxin complexes within a short time interval; mathematical modeling indicates prevailing of unbound nanosphere receptors over target toxin concentrations at most therapeutic injection dosages. After a toxin-specific time interval nanosphere-toxin complexes are generated within the blood stream and, after simple arterial or venous access, the blood is subsequently circulated via a small catheter through a portable high gradient magnetic separator device. In this device, the magnetic toxin complexes are retained by a high gradient magnetic field and the detoxified blood is then returned back to the blood circulation (extracorporeal circulation). Our preliminary in vitro experiments demonstrate >95% first pass capture efficiency of magnetic spheres within a prototype high gradient magnetic separation device. Further, based on the synthesis of novel hydrophobic magnetite nanophases with high magnetization (∼55 emu/g), the first biodegradable magnetic nanospheres at a size range of ∼280 nm and functionalized with PEG-maleimide surface groups for specific antibody attachment are described here. In future applications, we envision this technology to be suitable for emergent, in-field usage for acutely biohazard exposed victims as both the injectable toxin-binding magnetic spheres and the separator device are made to be portable, light-weight, zero-power, and self- or helper-employed. Details of the technology are presented and the state-of-knowledge and research is discussed.