Flow devices for the reduction of compounds from biological compositions and methods of use

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for reducing the concentration of low molecular weight compounds in a biological composition, while substantially maintaining a desired biological activity of the biological composition. The device comprises highly porous adsorbent particles, and the adsorbent particles are immobilized by an inert matrix.

1 . A device for substantially reducing the concentration of a low molecular weight compound in a biological composition, wherein the device comprises an inert matrix containing highly adsorbent particles, and wherein the highly adsorbent particles range from about 1 μm to about 200 μm in diameter, and wherein the biological composition treated with the device maintains suitable biological activity, and wherein the device is useful in a flow process.  
     
     
         2 . A device according to    claim 1   , wherein the adsorbent material is non-fibrous.  
     
     
         3 . A device according to    claim 2   , wherein the particulate adsorbent material is synthetic and polymeric, and wherein the adsorbent particles possess superior wetting properties.  
     
     
         4 . A device according to    claim 3   , wherein the adsorbent particles comprise a hypercrosslinked polystyrene network.  
     
     
         5 . A device according to    claim 2   , wherein the particulate adsorbent is carbonaceous.  
     
     
         6 . A device according to    claim 5   , wherein the carbonaceous particulate adsorbent is activated carbon.  
     
     
         7 . A device according to    claim 6   , wherein the activated carbon particulate adsorbent has a surface area greater than about 950 m 2 /g.  
     
     
         8 . A device according to    claim 6   , wherein the activated carbon particulate adsorbent has a surface area greater than about 1200 m 2 /g.  
     
     
         9 . A device according to    claim 8   , wherein the activated carbon particulate adsorbent is formed by steam activation.  
     
     
         10 . A device according to    claim 9   , wherein the activated carbon particulate adsorbent is further formed from coconut shells.  
     
     
         11 . A device according to    claim 1   , wherein the particle containing matrix is at least 3 mm thick.  
     
     
         12 . A device according to    claim 11   , wherein the particle containing matrix is composed of a plurality of layers.  
     
     
         13 . A device according to    claim 1   , wherein the device, or a component of the device, has been treated to enhance functionality, and wherein the enhanced functionality is biocompatibility, hemocompatibility or wettability.  
     
     
         14 . A device according to    claim 13   , wherein a component of the device has been treated to enhance functionality, and wherein the component is the adsorption media.  
     
     
         15 . A device according to    claim 13   , wherein a component of the device has been treated to enhance functionality, and wherein the component is the adsorbent material.  
     
     
         16 . A device according to    claim 13   , wherein a component of the device has been treated to enhance functionality, and wherein the component is the inert matrix.  
     
     
         17 . A device according to    claim 13   , wherein the treatment to enhance functionality is a surface treatment.  
     
     
         18 . A device according to    claim 1   , wherein the low molecular weight compound is an acridine derivative, a psoralen derivative or a dye.  
     
     
         19 . A device according to    claim 18   , wherein the low molecular weight compound is an acridine derivative, and wherein the acridine derivative is N-(9-acridinyl)-β-alanine.  
     
     
         20 . A device according to    claim 18   , wherein the low molecular weight compound is a psoralen derivative, and wherein the psoralen derivative is 4′(4-amino-2-oxa)butyl-4,5′,8-trimethyl psoralen.  
     
     
         21 . A device according to    claim 1   , wherein the low molecular weight compound is a biological response modifier.  
     
     
         22 . A device according to    claim 21   , wherein the biological response modifier is activated complement.  
     
     
         23 . A device according to    claim 1   , wherein the low molecular weight compound is a quencher.  
     
     
         24 . A device according to    claim 23   , wherein the quencher is glutathione.  
     
     
         25 . A device according to    claim 1   , wherein the low molecular weight compound is methylene blue.  
     
     
         26 . A device according to    claim 1   , wherein the treated biological composition is suitable for infusion into a human.  
     
     
         27 . A device according to    claim 1   , wherein the biological composition is plasma.  
     
     
         28 . A device according to    claim 1   , wherein the inert matrix is a fiber network.  
     
     
         29 . A device according to    claim 28   , wherein the fiber network is composed of cellulose.  
     
     
         30 . A device according to    claim 29   , wherein the adsorbent material comprises activated carbon, and wherein the particulate containing matrix is at least 3 mm thick.  
     
     
         31 . A device according to    claim 30   , wherein the activated carbon is formed by steam activation of coconut shells.  
     
     
         32 . A device according to    claim 31   , wherein the low molecular weight compound is an acridine derivative, a psoralen derivative or a dye, and wherein the product is suitable for infusion into a human.  
     
     
         33 . A device according to    claim 32   , wherein the biological composition is plasma.  
     
     
         34 . A device according to    claim 31   , wherein the low molecular weight compound is a biological response modifier, and wherein the product is suitable for infusion into a human.  
     
     
         35 . A device according to    claim 34   , wherein the biological composition is plasma.  
     
     
         36 . A device according to    claim 1   , wherein the inert matrix is a particulate network.  
     
     
         37 . A device according to    claim 36   , wherein the adsorbent material comprises particulate hypercrosslinked polystyrene networks, and wherein the particle containing matrix is at least 3 mm thick.  
     
     
         38 . A device according to    claim 37   , wherein the particle containing matrix is formed by sintering together particles of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene with particles of hypercrosslinked polystyrene networks.  
     
     
         39 . A device according to    claim 38   , wherein the low molecular weight compound is an acridine derivative, a psoralen derivative or a dye, and wherein the product is suitable for infusion into a human.  
     
     
         40 . A device according to    claim 39   , wherein the biological composition is plasma.  
     
     
         41 . A device according to    claim 38   , wherein the low molecular weight compound is a biological response modifier, and wherein the treated biological composition is suitable for infusion into a human.  
     
     
         42 . A device according to    claim 41   , wherein the biological composition is plasma.  
     
     
         43 . A method of reducing the concentration of a low molecular weight compound in a biological composition, wherein the biological composition treated with the device maintains suitable biological activity, comprising treating the biological composition with the device of    claim 1   ,    31    or  38 .  
     
     
         44 . A method according to    claim 43   , wherein the biological composition is plasma.  
     
     
         45 . A method according to    claim 43   , wherein the biological composition treated with the device is suitable for infusion into a human.  
     
     
         46 . A method according to    claim 43   , wherein the biological composition flows through the device as a result of a pressure differential.  
     
     
         47 . A method according to    claim 46   , wherein the pressure differential arises due to a hydrostatic head.  
     
     
         48 . A method according to    claim 46   , wherein the pressure differential arises due to the use of a pump.  
     
     
         49 . A method according to    claim 46   , wherein the biological composition flows through the device at a flux between about 0.1 mL/cm 2 /min and about 10 mL/cm 2 /min.  
     
     
         50 . A method according to    claim 49   , wherein the biological composition flows through the device at a flux between about 0.2 mL/cm 2 /min and about 5 mL/cm 2 /min.  
     
     
         51 . A biological composition, wherein the biological composition is suitable for infusion, and wherein the biological composition is produced by treating a biological composition with a device according to    claim 1   ,    31    or  38 .  
     
     
         52 . A biological composition according to    claim 51   , wherein the biological composition comprises plasma.  
     
     
         53 . A biological composition according to    claim 52   , wherein a nucleic acid targeting compound was added to the biological composition prior to treatment with the device.  
     
     
         54 . A biological composition according to    claim 52   , wherein a psoralen derivative was added to the biological composition prior to treatment with the device.  
     
     
         55 . A biological composition according to    claim 52   , wherein an acridine derivative was added to the biological composition prior to treatment with the device.  
     
     
         56 . A biological composition according to    claim 52   , wherein methylene blue was added to the biological composition prior to treatment with the device.  
     
     
         57 . A device for reducing the concentration of small organic compounds in a blood product while substantially maintaining a desired biological activity of the blood product, the device comprising highly porous adsorbent particles, wherein the adsorbent particles are immobilized by an inert matrix.