The present invention provides a regenerated cellulose membrane (RCM) that is useful in analysis of a sample for the presence of or the amount of a target molecule present in the sample. The invention also provides a method for producing and using the same. The RCM of the invention has a plurality of RCM functional groups on its surface in which a linker is covalently attached. The linker has a distal end and a proximal end, where the proximal end comprises at least one RCM linking functional group such that the RCM linking functional group is attached to the RCM functional group. The distal end of the linker comprises a receptor linking functional group that is used to covalently attach a receptor molecule. The receptor molecule is adapted for binding to a target molecule of interest when the target molecule is present in the sample. The RCM of the invention can be used for quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of a target molecule within the sample. The present invention also provides a method for producing and using the linker.

The present invention relates to the use, for affinity purification of an antibody or an fragment of an antibody, of a ligand-substituted matrix comprising a support material and at least one ligand covalently bonded to the support material, the ligand being represented by formula (I)
L-(Sp).sub.v-Ar.sup.1—Am—Ar.sup.2   (I)
wherein L, SP, Ar.sup.1, AM, Ar.sup.2 and v are defined herein.

The invention concerns biocompatible polymer systems comprising at least one polymer with a plurality of pores, said polymer comprising either polyol or zwitterionic groups designed to adsorb endotoxins and other inflammatory mediator molecules. The inventions are in the field of porous polymeric sorbents, also in the field of broadly reducing endotoxins in blood and blood products that can cause endotoxemia, additionally, in the field of broadly removing endotoxins by perfusion or hemoperfusion.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing FcRn having improved stability with respect to heat and acids, a method for producing said FcRn, an antibody adsorbent in which said FcRn is used, and an antibody isolation method in which said adsorbent is used. The above problem is solved by substituting an amino acid residue at a specific position in an extracellular region of a human FcRn α chain and/or a β2 microglobulin region of a human FcRn β chain by another specific amino acid.

The invention concerns polymeric media based on modified natural polysaccharides for removing one or both of Anti-A Antibodies and Anti-B Antibodies from human blood or plasma, the media comprising one or both of (i) a polymeric solid support with a blood group A Antigen ligand attached to the solid support at a ligand loading between 1-5 mg/mL of solid support, and wherein the media is stable under physiological pH conditions, and (ii) a polymeric solid support with a blood group B Antigen ligand attached to the solid support at a ligand loading between 1-5 mg/mL of solid support, and wherein the media is stable under physiological pH conditions.

Provided are: an Fc-binding protein having improved stability, particularly to heat and acid; a method for producing the protein; an antibody adsorbent using the protein; and a method for separating the antibodies using the adsorbent. Specifically provided are: an Fc-binding protein having improved stability to heat and acid, achieved by substituting an amino-acid residue in a specific position in the extracellular region of human FcyRIIIa with another specific amino acid; a method for producing the protein; an antibody adsorbent using the protein; and a method for separating the antibodies using the adsorbent.

The invention relates to a lock-release method to be applied to biomolecules, such as antibodies, to improve the purification, production, stability and storage of biomolecules. A biomolecule is covalently bound to a polymer support comprising a diketone group so that the biomolecule can be purified, produced and/or stored before being released from the support. The diketone group of the polymer support is a 1,3-ketoester, 1,3-ketothioester or 1,3-ketoamide is a group of Formula (1): R.sup.1 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, perhalogenated hydrocarbyl, or a heterocyclyl group; Y is hydrogen, an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, or a heterocyclyl group; X is —O, —NR.sup.2 or —S, wherein the free valence of —O, —NR.sup.2 or —S is bonded to the support optionally via a linker; and R.sup.2 is hydrogen, an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, or a heterocyclyl group. The invention also relates to a polymer support comprising the diketone group. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the isolation, modification and re-administration of a molecule or biomolecule, or a class of biomolecules, from the body fluid of a mammal via an extracorporeal closed circuit device. The device is able to capture and modify the biomolecule by the covalent or non-covalent attachment of a secondary molecule or protein, by cross-linking the captured molecule, or by altering the structure of the molecule (for example, by deglycosylation, peptide cleavage, or aggregation). The apparatus can be used to return the modified molecule or biomolecule to the mammalian subject. The device and methods may be utilized for the patient-specific diagnosis and/or treatment of a disease state which presents an associated molecule or protein in plasma or any other fluidized physiological system. The methods and apparatus may also be employed as a closed system allowing the on-line purification and/or modification of a target molecule or biomolecule from a fluid source such as a bioreactor or perfusion bioreactor.

To provide a porous silica having high alkali resistance; and a chromatographic carrier using such a porous silica. A porous silica comprising a phosphorus oxide component and a zirconium oxide component, wherein the amount of phosphorus atoms per unit specific surface area of the porous silica is from 1 μmol/m.sup.2 to 25 μmol/m.sup.2; and the amount of zirconium atoms per unit specific surface area of the porous silica is from 1 μmol/m.sup.2 to 15 μmol/m.sup.2. And, a chromatographic carrier which contains a ligand immobilized to such a porous silica.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for treating a biological fluid of a subject suffering from a microbial infection (e.g., a drug-resistant microbial infection). In some embodiments, these methods and systems involve a complement receptor immobilized on, or otherwise associated with a polymer substrate, for example, high surface area particles, membranes, hollow fibers, and/or other porous or non-porous media. In other embodiments, the methods and systems involve a complement receptor present in a dialysate used in a dialyzer for extracting pathogens out of a biological fluid, for example, the blood of a patient.