Removal of prions from blood, plasma and other liquids

Abstract

Devices such as flow through columns, substrates such as spherical polymer beads, and methods of using such to remove prions from any liquid sample are disclosed. A surface of a substrate is coated with a prion complexing agent, such as a salt of phosphotungstic acid. Blood or plasma passing through a column containing beads coated with prion complexing agent are rendered prion free.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of removing prions from a sample, comprising the steps of: 
 contacting a sample in a flowable liquid state with a solid substrate comprised of a prion complexing agent; and    allowing the sample to remain in contact with the substrate for time such that prions in the sample bind to the substrate.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the complexing agent is a heteropoly acid or salt thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 2   , wherein the complexing agent is a metal salt of phosphotungstic acid.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the complexing agent is a peptide.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the complexing agent is an antibody.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 5   , wherein the antibody is an antibody that selectively binds to PrP Sc .  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the sample comprises a human body fluid.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 2   , wherein the sample comprises human blood.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the substrate is further comprised of a polymer.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 9   , wherein the substrate is further comprised of a metal having the polymer coated thereon.  
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 9   , wherein the substrate is in the shape of spherical beads.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 10   , wherein the metal is a ferromagnetic metal.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 12   , further comprising: 
 removing the substrate from contact with the sample by application of magnetic energy.    
     
     
         14 . A substrate, comprising: 
 a water insoluble polymer; and    a prion complexing agent.    
     
     
         15 . The substrate of    claim 14   , further comprising: 
 a metal wherein the polymer is coated on the metal and salt of phosphotungstic acid is coated on the polymer.    
     
     
         16 . The substrate of    claim 14   , wherein the prion complexing agent is comprised of an antibody which binds PrP Sc  bound to a surface of the polymer.  
     
     
         17 . A prion free liquid, characterized by being subjected to the method of    claim 1   .  
     
     
         18 . The prion free liquid of    claim 17   , wherein the liquid is further characterized by being derived from a human.  
     
     
         19 . The prion free liquid of    claim 18   , wherein the liquid is human blood.  
     
     
         20 . The prion free liquid of    claim 18   , wherein the liquid is human plasma.  
     
     
         21 . A device for removing prions from a liquid sample, comprising: 
 a housing through which a liquid sample flows; and    substrate surfaces comprised of prion complexing agent.    
     
     
         22 . The device of    claim 19   , wherein the housing is cylindrical and the substrate is polymer beads having sodium phosphotungstate coated on their surface.