The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for receiving blood (or other bodily fluids) from a subject, e.g., from or beneath the skin of a subject. In some cases, the blood (or other bodily fluids) may be deposited on a membrane or other substrate. For example, blood may be absorbed in a substrate, and dried in some cases to produce a dried blood spot. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to devices and methods for receiving blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin, using devices including a substance transfer component (which may contain, for example, one or more microneedles), and directing the blood on a substrate, e.g., for absorbing blood. The substrate, in some embodiments, may comprise filter paper or cotton-based paper. After absorption of some blood onto the substrate, the substrate may be removed from the device and shipped or analyzed. In some cases, the device itself may be shipped or analyzed. For example, in some embodiments, a portion of the device may be sealed such that the substrate is contained within an airtight portion of the device, optionally containing desiccant. Other aspects are generally directed at other devices for receiving blood (or other bodily fluids), kits involving such devices, methods of making such devices, methods of using such devices, and the like.

A plate for a filter press, a filter press, the use of such a filter press as well as a method of cleaning and sterilization of such a filter press. The plate for a filter press has a base body, consisting of a first material with a hardness H.sub.1 and having an outer circumferential surface, and a frame arranged on the outer circumferential surface, consisting of a second material with a hardness H.sub.2, where H.sub.2<H.sub.1, and wherein the frame has on at least one side surface at least one encircling seal protruding relative to the side surface.

A method for the re-anticoagulation of platelet rich plasma in a blood apheresis system includes priming the blood apheresis system with anticoagulant, such that a volume of anticoagulant is transferred to a PRP container. The method may then transfer the anticoagulant within the PRP container to a red blood cell container, and collect a volume of platelet rich plasma within the PRP container. The platelet rich plasma may be collected in a plurality of cycles. Between collection cycles, the method may transfer a portion of the volume of anticoagulant from the red blood cell container to the PRP container.

A cell washing apparatus is provided to wash a cell-containing fluid. The apparatus is arranged to exchange one or more exchangeable entities from a cell-containing first fluid, and comprises, a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, the second fluid conduit separated from the first fluid conduit by a semi-permeable membrane disposed therebetween; the first fluid conduit having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, the first fluid conduit arranged to transport the first fluid in a first direction between the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet; the second fluid conduit being arranged to house a second fluid; wherein the semi-permeable membrane comprises a plurality of pores arranged to permit transport of said one or more exchangeable entities from the first fluid to the second fluid; wherein the one or more exchangeable entities comprise free haemoglobin and/or blood plasma; and wherein the first fluid is whole blood isolated from a human body, or packed red blood cells. The cell washing apparatus of the present invention aims to solve the problem of harmful species that accumulate in a cell-containing fluid (such as, for example, transfusion blood) during storage and other applications, in which it is desired to transfer red blood cells to a clean suspending liquid.

Provided herein are materials and methods of reducing contamination in a biological substance or treating contamination in a subject by one or more toxins comprising contacting the biological substance with an effective amount of a sorbent capable of sorbing the toxin, wherein the sorbent comprises a plurality of pores ranging from 50 Å to 40,000 Å with a pore volume of 0.5 cc/g to 5.0 cc/g and a size of 0.05 mm to 2 cm and sorbing the toxin. Also provided are kits to reduce contamination by one or more toxins in a biological substance comprising a sorbent capable of sorbing a toxin, wherein the sorbent comprises a plurality of pores ranging from 50 Å to 40,000 Å with a pore volume of 0.5 cc/g to 5.0 cc/g and a size of 0.05 mm to 2 cm and a vessel to store said sorbent when not in use together with packaging for same.

Provided is a method for cancer treatment in a patient comprising extracorporeal dialysis of blood, plasma or peritoneal fluid of the patient with a dialysis system for removing a target amino acid, and the dialysis system comprising: a dialysis machine, a dialyzer having a dialysis membrane, and a dialysate; wherein the dialyzer is connected to the dialysis machine and the dialysate flows within the dialysis machine and the dialyzer; and an enzyme for degrading the target amino acid is provided to the dialysis membrane and/or the dialysate, and the target amino acid includes asparagine, glutamine, arginine, serine, methionine or any combination thereof. By modifying dialysis to achieve in vitro amino acid deprivation and incorporating personalized diagnosis, the present invention not only provides a novel precision medicine with better anticancer efficacy and less side effects, but also requires less time and cost for development.

Provided are methods for preparing pathogen-inactivated platelet compositions, as well as processing sets and compositions related thereto.

The present system and method are useful for the removal of immune inhibitors such as soluble TNF receptors from the body fluid of cancer patients. In some embodiments, soluble TNF-Receptors 1 and 2 are selectively removed from plasma at 80% or more efficiency. In some embodiments, the system includes an immobilized capture ligand of a single chain TNFα. The system and method are useful for the treatment of different cancer types, stages and severity.

An integrated kit for separating blood and concentrating PRP includes: (a) a main body that includes an upper storage portion, a lower storage portion, and a passage portion for connecting the upper storage portion and the lower storage portion; (b) a upper cover coupled to an upper end of the upper storage portion; (c) an inner stopper inserted into a lower end of the lower storage portion so as to seal the lower storage portion; (d) a closing adjustment screw which can move vertically while penetrating a hole formed at the inner stopper and seals the passage portion; and (e) a lower cover coupled to an outside of the lower end of the lower storage portion and the outside of the inner stopper to prevent the separation of the closing adjustment screw coupled to the inner stopper in case of centrifugation.

The invention provides means, methods, and compositions of matter useful for enhancing tumor response to checkpoint inhibitors. In one embodiment, the invention teaches utilization of extracorporeal apheresis, specifically removal of various tumor derived, or tumor microenvironment derived immunological “blocking factors”. In one embodiment the invention provides the removal of soluble TNF-alpha receptors (sTNF-Rs) as a means of augmenting efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In one specific embodiment removal of sTNF-Rs is utilized to enhance efficacy of inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, and/or the CD28/CTLA-4 pathway.