Methods and Systems for Platelet Cryopreservation

Abstract

Methods and systems for cryopreservation of platelets are disclosed. Platelets collected in a collection chamber of a plateletpheresis device may be combined with a cryopreservative solution directly in the collection chamber and joined with a kit including a storage unit for storage in a cryopreserved state and thawing.

Claims

1. A cryopreservation lit comprising: a) a fluid circuit including a container of a platelet additive solution and a platelet storage container and tubing interconnecting said platelet storage container and said additive solution and establishing a flow paths therebetween; and b) a storage unit comprising a housing including one or more insets/compartments for holding a container of platelets, the container of said platelet additive solution and said platelet storage container, said housing comprising a waterproof material that allows frozen platelets to thaw.

2. The cryopreservation kit of claim 1 comprising a compartment for holding said platelet container and a compartment for holding at least one of said additive solution and said platelet storage container.

3. The cryopreservation kit of claim 1 wherein said fluid circuit includes at least one sterile docking site.

4. The cryopreservation kit of claim 3 wherein said kit includes a sterile docking site for a container of a cryopreservative solution.

5. The cryopreservation kit of claim 3 wherein said kit includes a sterile docking site for a container of platelet concentrate.

6. The cryopreservation kit of claim 1 wherein said housing includes an open top and a lid.

7. The cryopreservation kit of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises tubing guides.

8. The cryopreservation kit of claim 7 wherein said tubing guides comprise compartments for accommodating said tubing.

9. The cryopreservation kit of claim 7 wherein said guides comprises a plurality of upstanding members around which said tubing is threaded.

10. The cryopreservation kit of claim 1 wherein said housing is made of a material that allows a cryopreserved platelet product to thaw in approximately 5 minutes or less at a temperature of approximately 37 C.

11. The cryopreservation kit of claim 1 wherein said housing is made of a polymeric material that is suitable for exposure to temperatures up to about 80 C. without damage.

12. A method for preparing cryopreserved blood product comprising; a) introducing whole blood into a centrifugal chamber, and said chamber comprising a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber; b) concentrating said platelets in said second sub-chamber; c) introducing a cryopreservative solution into said second sub-chamber; d) isolating said second sub-chamber from said first sub-chamber; and e) freezing said second sub-chamber for a selected period of time.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said centrifugal chamber is part of an automated fluid processing device, said device comprising a controller configured to effect the processing of a blood product and for effecting the introduction of said cryopreservative solution to said concentrated platelets.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising attaching said isolated second sub-chamber to a kit comprising an additive solution and a platelet storage container.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising attaching said isolated second sub-chamber to said kit prior to freezing.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising thawing said platelets.

17. The method of claim 12 comprising freezing said platelets after attaching said second sub-chamber to said kit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automated apheresis device that may be used in the collection and processing of platelets for cryopreservation in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the front panel of the device of FIG. 3 with an exemplary disposable fluid circuit for collecting platelets mounted on the device;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a diagram of the disposable fluid circuit useful in collecting and processing platelets for cryopreservation in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of processing chamber of the disposable fluid circuit of FIG. 3;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a cryopreservation kit in accordance with present disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a storage unit/cassette for housing the cryopreservation kit of FIG. 5;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a storage unit/cassette of FIG. 6 with the cryopreservation kit and platelet concentration chamber attached thereto and housed in the unit/cassette;

[0016] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of a storage unit/cassette for housing the cryopreservation kit of FIG. 5; and

[0017] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the storage unit/cassette of FIG. 8 with the cryopreservation kit and platelet concentration chamber attached thereto housed in the cassette

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0018] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a representative separation device useful in the separation and collection of platelets. The separator 50 includes a hardware component 52 and a disposable processing kit 54 mounted thereon. In one embodiment, the separation principle used by the separator is based on centrifugation, but an automated separator based on a different separation principle may also be used.

[0019] With respect to the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a rotating centrifuge is housed within hardware component 52. Disposable fluid circuit 54 includes the plastic containers for holding fluid and tubing defining flow paths for movement of the blood, blood components and other fluids through the fluid circuit of 54. Disposable fluid circuit 54 includes one or more cassettes 56 (i.e., cassettes 56a, 56b and 56c shown in FIGS. 2-3) which interface with the front panel of hardware component 52 and the peristaltic pumps located thereon. Cassettes 56a, 56b and 56c include inlet and outlet ports, internal flow paths and valve stations. A series of pneumatically or electrically operated valves under the control of a pre-programmed controller of hardware component 52 selectively allow and restrict flow through the flow paths of the cassette and ultimately through the tubing of fluid circuit 54. Cassettes 56a, 56b and 56c further include tubing loops that are engaged by the rollers of the peristaltic pumps thereby pumping fluid through fluid circuit 54. Further details of an automated separator suitable for use with the systems and methods described herein are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,427,509; 6,312,607; 6,582,349 and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0211987, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0020] Disposable fluid circuit 54 further includes a processing chamber shown generally at 57 of FIGS. 3-4 (which is mounted on a rotor/spool 55 of the centrifuge). Processing chamber 57 has a first sub-chamber 58 wherein blood or blood components are separated under the influence of centrifugal force (i.e., the separation chamber) and a sub-chamber 59 where blood components from sub-chamber 58 can be further processed, separated and/or collected (i.e., the concentration chamber). Specifically, with regard to plateletpheresis, whole blood withdrawn from a donor is separated into platelet-rich plasma and red blood cells in sub-chamber 58 by centrifugation. While the red blood cells may be returned to the donor, the platelet rich plasma is expressed (during centrifugation) to sub-chamber 59 i.e., the concentration chamber where platelet-rich plasma is further separated into platelet-poor plasma and platelet concentrate. Residual (platelet-poor) plasma is removed from sub-chamber 59 and may be returned to the donor and/or collected in a container for later use. The platelets remaining in sub-chamber 59 are highly concentrated (or even hyper-concentrated) and are suitable for cryopreservation. In one example, approximately 50 ml or less of concentrated platelets remain in sub-chamber 59. More preferably, approximately 30 ml of platelets at a concentration of about 3-5010.sup.9/mL remain in sub-chamber 59. As shown in FIG. 4, processing chamber 57 includes multiple ports 53 a, b, c, d, e that are in fluid communication with sub-chambers 58 and 59 and allow for introduction and withdrawal of whole blood and components such as red blood cells, platelet-rich plasma, platelet poor plasma and, as will be described below, a cryopreservative solution.

[0021] In accordance with the present disclosure, rather than transfer the platelet concentrate from sub-chamber 59 to a separate collection container, platelet concentrate may be prepared for cryopreservation directly in sub-chamber 59. Thus, in accordance with the present disclosure, a container of cryopreservative solution 18 may be attached in a sterile manner at the completion of the platelet collection or pre-attached to fluid circuit 54 as shown in FIG. 3. For example, in one embodiment, cryopreservative solution may be attached to cassette 56c. Under the direction of the controller (which selectively effects the opening and closing of valves in cassette and rotation of pump rollers), pumps associated with cassette 56c may directly deliver a desired amount of cryopreservative solution to the platelet concentrate in sub-chamber 59. Alternatively, as will be described below, the cryopreservative solution may be combined with the platelets using a kit to which both sub-chamber 59 and a container of the cryopreservative solution are joined via a sterile docking method and device. In a still further alternative embodiment, as also described below, the cryopreservative solution may be added in the manner described above and as shown in FIG. 3, the platelet chamber separated from the fluid circuit and the cryopreserved product processed using the kit as described below.

[0022] The cryopreservative solution may be any solution that is compatible for use with platelets and can protect platelets during freezing. One well-known cryopreservative is dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Where DMSO is the cryopreservative combined with platelets in sub-chamber 59, DMSO may comprise approximately 5-6% of the total fluid volume (platelet concentrate and cryopreservative).

[0023] In accordance with the present disclosure, once the platelet concentrate has been combined with the cryopreservative, sub-chamber 59 may be isolated (e.g. severed/disconnected) from the remainder of processing chamber 57 and/or fluid circuit 54. For example, with reference to FIG. 4, a liquid-tight seal may be formed between separation and concentration chambers 58 and 59 respectively. In addition, tubing ports 53a-e that communicate with sub-chambers 58 and 59 may also be sealed. Sub-chamber 59 may then be severed from the remainder of processing chamber 57 and fluid circuit 54 along the formed seals described above.

[0024] Separated sub-chamber 59 may serve as the cryopreservation container. In that regard, at least sub-chamber 59 may be made of a material that is suitable for and can withstand the duration and cold storage temperatures commonly seen in the cryopreservation of platelets. In one embodiment at least sub-chamber 59 may be made of plasticized polyvinyl chloride. The plasticizer may be di-ethylhexyl terephthalate (DEHP) although other plasticizers may also be used with polyvinyl chloride. Other materials capable of withstanding cryopreservation may also include ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVA) or fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP). It will be understood that while only the separated sub-chamber 59 will be stored under freezing conditions and the separated parts of the fluid circuit 54 and processing chamber 57 (such as the separation chamber 58) need not be made of material suitable for cryopreservation, such parts may be made of the same material as sub-chamber 59 for ease and efficiency of manufacture.

[0025] Platelets collected and prepared for cryopreservation in accordance with the above described method are suitable for subsequent transfusion to a patient. A feasibility study was conducted to determine whether hyper-concentrated platelets obtained directly from the collection chamber of a plateletpheresis device can be used for the preparation of cryopreserved platelet products without the need for additional centrifugation and volume reduction.

[0026] Study

[0027] Study Design/Methods: Single dose platelets (n=10) were collected from healthy subjects using the Amicus Separator. Once collection was complete and the subject was disconnected from the device, the procedure was terminated prior to the product transfer step and the collection chamber was isolated. Hyper-concentrated platelets were resuspended in the residual plasma contained within the collection chamber (approximately 30 mL). Injection sites were sterile connected to the platelet collection chamber. A cryopreservation solution containing 10% DMSO (CryoStor CS10, BioLife Solutions) was then added to a final DMSO concentration of 6% (ave. total product volume: 621 mL). The collection chamber was then placed in a plastic overwrap bag and stored horizontally in a cardboard box within a 80 C. freezer for a minimum of 2 weeks. For thawing, platelets were placed in a 37 C. water bath for 5 minutes with gentle agitation. Temperature-equilibrated PAS-5 platelet additive solution (approx. 300 mL) was then slowly added with gentle mixing, and the platelets transferred to a 1L PL2410 platelet storage container. Platelets were stored at room temperature under constant agitation for up to 24 hours. Platelet quality was assessed just prior to freezing, immediately post thaw, and post PAS addition at times 0, 2, 6, and 24 hours.

[0028] In vitro parameter results are summarized in table below. Platelet yields ranged from (2.8-3.2)1011. Discoid(%) for platelet morphology was >50% for up to 6 hrs post PAS addition. Platelets maintained HSR response through 24 hrs of storage, peaking at the 6 hr time point. Consistent with previous reports, platelets were activated immediately post thaw with no significant change observed over 24 hours. Thawed and reconstituted platelets were free of macroaggregrates. Microaggregrates, visible only by microscopy evaluation, tended to form between 2-6 hr time points, and were present throughout products by 24 hrs.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Parameter, Mean SD Post PAS Addition (hr) (n = 10) PreFreezing PostThaw 0 2 6 24 Plt Conc 4474 431 4756 189 801 60 726 52 659 49 688 51 (10.sup.9/L) MPV (fL) 7.9 0.9 8.6 0.8 8.9 0.8 8.7 0.7 8.1 0.6 8.2 0.6 Morphology: 338 9 286 23 301 12 295 14 284 6 242 15 Score (max 400) Morphology: 67 3 48 10 56 3 53 4 51 4 36 5 Discoid (%) HSR (%) NA 27.5 8.4* 29.6 2.1 38.6 4.7 40.2 2.2 23.8 2.4 CD62p (%) 3.3 5.0 46.4 12.1 54.5 17.4 52.6 16.7 54.2 19.1 51.8 18.7 *n = 7

[0029] In accordance with the present disclosure, alternatively sub-chamber 59 may be joined to a pre-assembled cryopreservation kit 60 as shown in FIG. 5 and a container of cryopreservative solution. Kit 60 may include a platelet storage container 62 and a container 64 of platelet additive solution of the type described, for example, in WO 2012/139017, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. Each of containers 62 and 64 include tubing segment 66 and 68 which define flow paths for fluid communication between containers 62 and 64 and other components of kit 60. Tubing segments 66 and 68 are joined at branch connector 70 shown in FIG. 5 and flow through tubing segments 66 and 68 may be regulated by conventional roller or Roberts-type clamps 74 and 76. In addition, flow path defined by tubing 68 may include a frangible connector 72 which when broken, establishes fluid communication between container 64 to the remainder of the kit. A second branch connector 78 is also shown in FIG. 5. Branch connector 78 communicates with flow path 82 and flow path 80, each of which terminate in a sterile docking site for a container of cryopreservation solution (at docking site 83) and the sub chamber 59 (at docking site 81). In one embodiment, sterile docking may occur between docking site 81 and one of ports 53d or 53e that was sealed and severed from the remainder of the fluid circuit 54. Once sub-chamber 59 (with collected platelets therein) and the container of cryopreservative solution have been sterile docked to kit 60, the cryopreservative solution may be expressed into sub-chamber 59.

[0030] Kit 60 may be provided in a storage unit/cassette as shown for example in FIGS. 6-9. Storage unit 90 (shown in FIG. 6), for example, not only serves as the packaging for kit 60 prior to use, but in accordance with the present disclosure, may also serve as the storage unit during freezing and thawing of the platelet product. Accordingly, storage unit 90 may be made of any material that is suitable for exposure to the freezing conditions of cryopreservation as well as thawing by submersion in a water bath or exposure to another thermal controlled environment. The material should be such that quick thawing of the platelet product (and frozen platelet additive solution) should not exceed five (5) minutes at approximately 37 C. Storage unit 90 may be made of either metal or a polymeric material or a combination of both. Examples of suitable materials include aluminum, stainless steel, polypropylene, polyethylene and polycarbonate.

[0031] As further shown in FIG. 6, storage unit 90 may be generally rectangularly shaped and include inset areas/compartments 92, 94, and 96 to accommodate the containers and tubings of kit 60. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, inset area 92 may be sized and shaped to contain platelet storage container 62 and platelet additive solution 64 (stacked on top). Inset area 94 may be sized and shaped to receive sub chamber 59 shown in FIG. 6. Inset area 96 may be sized and shaped to accommodate the tubing segments, branch connectors and the like as shown in FIG. 6.

[0032] FIGS. 8 and 9 show an alternative embodiment of storage unit 100. Similar to storage unit 90 of FIGS. 6 and 7, storage unit 100 may be rectangularly shaped, made of material suitable for cryopreservation and thawing, and include inset areas/compartments 102, 104 and 106. In storage unit 100, inset areas 102 and 104 are arranged to allow for a side-by-side placement of platelet storage container 62 and additive solution container 64. Inset area 106 accommodates and allows for placement of chamber 59 after joinder of chamber 59 to the remainder to kit 60. Storage unit 100 may further include tubing guides 108 to thread and organize tubing segments 66, 68, 80, 82, and the associated components such as branch connectors and clamps.

[0033] In each example of the storage units 90 and 100, storage unit may include a base with the above described inset areas having an open top that may be closed with a lid. Organization of the containers and tubing segments and sub chamber 59 within storage units 90 and 100 are arranged to ensure adequate freezing of the platelet product in sub chamber 59 as well as complete thawing of the platelet product in sub chamber 59 and the platelet additive solution in container 64. Inasmuch as storage unit includes a flat bottom and flat lid, during cryopreservation, multiple storage units 90 or 100 may be stacked one on top of the other. In addition to the preassembled kit 60 with its pre-attached containers and docking sites, prior to cryopreservation, storage unit 90 or 100 may further include the container of the cryopreservative solution which, as described above, may be preattached to docking site 83 or provided as a standalone container for docking after platelet collection either directly to kit 60 or to the fluid circuit 54 as described above.

[0034] After the desired freezing period, storage units 90 and/or 100 may be removed from the freezer and thawed in a warm bath or other thermally controlled environment. Once the platelets in sub-chamber 59 and additive solution in container 64 have thawed, platelets may be expressed from sub-chamber 59 to platelet storage container 62. After breakage of frangible container 72, platelet additive solution or a portion thereof from container 64 may be expressed to platelet storage container 62. Some or all of the platelet additive solution may also be used to rinse sub-chamber 59 to ensure maximum platelet recovery. If only a portion of the additive solution is used to rinse sub-chamber 59, the remainder of the platelet additive solution from container 64 may then be added to platelet storage container 62.

[0035] In a further alternative, platelets may be collected and combined with the cryopreservative solution in the manner described above and shown in FIG. 3, while using kit 60 and/or storage unit 90 or 100 for the freezing and/or thawing and further processing of the platelets. In other words, a container of cryopreservative solution may be attached to the fluid circuit of FIG. 3 and, under the direction of the controller, pumps associated with the fluid circuit (e.g., cassette 56c) may directly deliver a desired amount of cryopreservative solution to the platelet concentrate in sub-chamber 59. Then, as previously described, sub-chamber 59 (now with platelets and the cryopreservative) may be isolated (e.g., severed/disconnected) from the remainder of processing chamber. Sub-chamber 59 may then be frozen first and then thawed prior to attachment to kit 60 for further processing with the additive solution and storage container 62.

[0036] Alternatively, sub-chamber 59 may be attached to kit 60 at, for example, connection site 81 and the entire kit frozen, as described above. Kit 60 would then be thawed and the platelets in sub-chamber 59 with the other (additive and storage) containers of kit 60, also as described above. In this embodiment, inasmuch as the cryopreservative solution is added by the automated plateletpheresis device of FIG. 3, there is no need to attach the cryopreservative solution at connection site 83.

[0037] It will be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative of some of the applications and the principals of the present subject matter. Numerous modifications may be made by those of skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter including those combinations of features that are individually disclosed or claimed herein. For these reasons the scope hereof is not limited to the above description.

OTHER EXAMPLES

[0038] Aspects of the present subject matter described above may be beneficial alone or in combination with one or more other Aspects, as described below.

[0039] Aspect 1. A cryopreservation kit comprising: a fluid circuit including a container of a platelet additive solution and a platelet storage container and tubing interconnecting said platelet storage container and said additive solution and establishing a flow paths therebetween; and a storage unit comprising a housing including one or more insets/compartments for holding a container of platelets, the container of said platelet additive solution and said platelet storage container, said housing comprising a waterproof material that allows frozen platelets to thaw.

[0040] Aspect 2. The cryopreservation kit of Aspect 1 comprising a compartment for holding said platelet container and a compartment for holding at least one of said additive solution and said platelet storage container.

[0041] Aspect 3. The cryopreservation kit of any one of Aspects 1 and 2 wherein said fluid circuit includes at least one sterile docking site.

[0042] Aspect 4. The cryopreservation kit of Aspect 3 wherein said kit includes a sterile docking site for a container of a cryopreservative solution.

[0043] Aspect 5. The cryopreservation kit of any one of Aspects 3 through 4 wherein said kit includes a sterile docking site for a container of platelet concentrate.

[0044] Aspect 6. The cryopreservation kit of any one of Aspects 1 through 5 wherein said housing includes an open top and a lid.

[0045] Aspect 7. The cryopreservation kit of any one of Aspects 1 through 6 wherein said housing comprises tubing guides.

[0046] Aspect 8. The cryopreservation kit of Aspect 7 wherein said tubing guides comprise compartments for accommodating said tubing.

[0047] Aspect 9. The cryopreservation kit of any one of Aspects 7 through 8 wherein said guides comprises a plurality of upstanding members around which said tubing is threaded.

[0048] Aspect 10. The cryopreservation kit of any one of Aspects 1 through 9 wherein said housing is made of a material that allows a cryopreserved platelet product to thaw in approximately 5 minutes or less at a temperature of approximately 37 C.

[0049] Aspect 11. The cryopreservation kit of any one of Aspects 1 through 11 wherein said housing is made of a polymeric material that is suitable for exposure to temperatures up to about 80 C. without damage.

[0050] Aspect 12. A method for preparing cryopreserved blood product comprising: introducing whole blood into a centrifugal chamber, said chamber comprising a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber; concentrating said platelets in said second sub-chamber and introducing a cryopreservative solution into said second sub-chamber. The method includes isolating said second sub-chamber from said first chamber and freezing the second sub-chamber for a desired period of time.

[0051] Aspect 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said centrifugal chamber is part of an automated fluid processing device, said device comprising a controller configured to effect the processing of a blood product and for effecting the delivery of said cryopreservative solution to said concentrated platelets.

[0052] Aspect 14. The method of any one of claims 12 and 13 further comprising attaching said isolated second sub-chamber to a kit comprising an additive solution and a platelet storage container.

[0053] Aspect 15. The method of claim 14 comprising attaching said isolated second sub-chamber to said kit prior to freezing said second chamber to said kit.

[0054] Aspect 16. The method of any one of claims 12 through 15 further comprising thawing said platelets prior to attaching said second sub-chamber to said kit.

[0055] Aspect 17. The method of any one of claims 12 through 14 comprising freezing said platelets after attaching said second sub-chamber to said kit.