The present disclosure is directed to methods of removing proteins, including cytokines, from blood and blood products, the methods comprising contacting the blood or blood product with a form of carbon having high graphitic contents and slit-shaped mesopores and macropores, the pore size dimensions chosen to be comparable to the size of the proteins, wherein the contacting results in the removal of high levels of the protein from the blood or blood product in minutes or hours.

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.

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 blood treatment method includes the steps of inducing flow of a patient's blood through an extracorporeal device inlet and outlet in fluid connection to the circulatory system of the patient. Metastatic DNA contained within patient blood can be rendered non-oncogenic by passing patient blood over a biochemical reactor surface having attached or immobilized DNase 1 enzyme, with the biochemical reactor being contained within the extracorporeal device. The treatment method is performed without adding any chemicals to the blood of the patient.

A bioprocessing system for protein manufacturing from human blood is provided that is compact, integrated and suited for on-demand production and delivery of therapeutic proteins to patients. The patient's own blood can be used as the source of cell extracts for the production of the therapeutic proteins.

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 invention relates to a blood treatment device configured to remove anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) from the blood or blood plasma of a person in need thereof in an extracorporeal blood circuit, wherein the device comprises a matrix, and wherein said matrix comprises a monomeric form of proteinase 3 (PR3). The invention further relates to an extra-corporeal blood circuit comprising a blood treatment device of the invention and to the blood treatment device for use as a medicament or to methods of treating a medical condition associated with ANCA.

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.

Generally, a blood plasma immunomodulating agent rebalancing system. In particular, a blood plasma sTNFR and cytokine rebalancing system and methods of rebalancing sTNFR and cytokines in the blood plasma of a subject during plasmapheresis.