The invention is directed to the removal of serum gal-3 from circulation by plasmapheresis, comprising at least in part donor apheresis, using gal-3 binding agents in either a fixed bed, or in a form easily removed, such as by being complexed with magnetic particles. This method, on its own, brings a sharp reduction and relief from the inflammation and fibroses that can be induced by circulating gal-3. The process may be combined with the administration of gal-3 binding agents, such as modified citrus pectin, to further lower unbound gal-3 levels, to the point where gal-3 in the tissues may be addressed. This method may also be combined with removal of TNF receptors to provide an effective treatment for cancer.

The invention is directed to the removal of serum gal-3 from circulation by plasmapheresis, comprising at least in part donor apheresis, using gal-3 binding agents in either a fixed bed, or in a form easily removed, such as by being complexed with magnetic particles. This method, on its own, brings a sharp reduction and relief from the inflammation and fibroses that can be induced by circulating gal-3. The process may be combined with the administration of gal-3 binding agents, such as modified citrus pectin, to further lower unbound gal-3 levels, to the point where gal-3 in the tissues may be addressed. This method may also be combined with removal of TNF receptors to provide an effective treatment for cancer.

A method of collecting mononuclear cells includes separating plasma from cellular components of whole blood. The cellular components, which include mononuclear cells and red blood cells, are combined with plasma replacement fluid to form a first mixture. The mononuclear cells of the first mixture are separated from the red blood cells of the first mixture, which may be followed by extracorporeal photopheresis being performed on the mononuclear cells.

A column for removal of a component from a fluid is disclosed. The column has a compartment with a cross sectional area. The compartment contains beads having a diameter. A ligand selected to bind to the component is coupled to the beads. The cross-sectional area and bead diameter are selected to maintain a flow velocity of the fluid within the compartment below a first threshold, thereby reducing leaching of the ligand into the fluid. Also described herein is an adsorbent comprising a ligand that is attached to a substrate by an amine bond, wherein the ligand is resistant to dissociation from the substrate.

Selective extracorporeal blood disinfection systems and related methods are disclosed. The systems comprise an input tube forming a flowpath for the flow of infected blood. The systems further comprise a disinfection unit comprising a microbicidal light emitting device configured to emit visible light within the range of about 380-425 nm and/or about 500-700 nm, and a treatment flowpath in communication with the input tube that is substantially transparent to the emitted light of the microbicidal light emitting device for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the infected blood therethrough. The microbicidal light emitting device effectuates a dose of the emitted light to the infected blood flowing through the treatment flowpath to disinfect the blood. The systems also comprise an output tube in fluid communication with the treatment flowpath forming a flowpath for the flow of the disinfected blood from the disinfection unit.

A system and a method facilitate the extracorporeal inactivation of pathogens of blood products. The system includes an input peristaltic pump, at least one apheresis device, at least one plasma-treating system, and an output peristaltic pump. The input peristaltic pump, the apheresis device, the plasma-treating system, and the output peristaltic pump are in fluid communication with each other. The plasma-treating system includes at least one primary ultraviolet light (UVL) device, at least one heating device, and at least one cooling device. The input peristaltic pump facilitates the flow of blood from a patient through the system. The apheresis device facilitates separating of plasma from one or more blood cells. The plasma-treating system heats the plasma, inactivates pathogens within the plasma, and then cools the plasma. The output peristaltic pump facilitates the flow of blood from the system and back to the patient.

A column for removal of a component from a fluid is disclosed. The column has a compartment with a cross sectional area. The compartment contains beads having a diameter. A ligand selected to bind to the component is coupled to the beads. The cross-sectional area and bead diameter are selected to maintain a flow velocity of the fluid within the compartment below a first threshold, thereby reducing leaching of the ligand into the fluid. Also described herein is an adsorbent comprising a ligand that is attached to a substrate by an amine bond, wherein the ligand is resistant to dissociation from the substrate.

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has caused a worldwide pandemic of enormous proportions resulting in significant levels of morbidity and mortality, tremendous pressures on the healthcare system, personal freedoms and society, and an unprecedented impact on the economies of the United States and the world. There are still significant unknowns about this very contagious and deadly virus, and these unknowns are coupled with no natural immunity. A promising therapeutic strategy is the utilization/transfusion of convalescent plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients. There are, however, risks involved in such transfusions from residual virus and other adventitious viruses and bacteria. These risks can be minimized by the pathogen clearance of convalescent plasma units in a hospital setting. There is an immediate need for the rapid pathogen inactivation/clearance of convalescent plasma units from recovered COVID-19 patients.

The present invention is a physical pathogen reduction and inactivation apparatus and method for controlling or eliminating transfusion-transmittable infections in convalescent plasma from recovered COVID-19 donors. The invention inactivates both nonenveloped and enveloped viruses as well as pathogenic bacteria and parasites in units of human plasma, while retaining the potency of natural biologically-active proteinaceous products in the pathogen-reduced plasma. The invention uses critical, near-critical or supercritical fluids for viral and pathogen reduction of units of donor blood plasma in blood bags. The apparatus is in the form of a transportable mobile unit, where it can be used in hospitals, blood banks, and medical facilities.

A system for measuring at least one fluid characteristic at various stages within a sorbent system that has a sorbent cartridge that has at least one material layer and at least one fluid passageway in at least one location in the sorbent system to provide a diverted sample stream from the various stages. At least one fluid characteristic of the diverted sample stream is measured.

The invention is directed to the removal of serum gal-3 from circulation by plasmapheresis, comprising at least in part donor apheresis, using gal-3 binding agents in either a fixed bed, or in a form easily removed, such as by being complexed with magnetic particles. This method, on its own, brings a sharp reduction and relief from the inflammation and fibroses that can be induced by circulating gal-3. The process may be combined with the administration of gal-3 binding agents, such as modified citrus pectin, to further lower unbound gal-3 levels, to the point where gal-3 in the tissues may be addressed. This method may also be combined with removal of TNF receptors to provide an effective treatment for cancer.