Separation

Abstract

The invention refers to method for selectively binding and separating at least one component from whole blood or a body fluid, whereby the blood or body fluid is allowed to pass through a rigid integral separation matrix without being excluded therefrom. The matrix has a porous structure with a pore size ranging from 5 micron to 500 micron as well as an active surface ranging from 0.5 cm 2 to 10 m 2 , and the surface is able to bind such components.

1 . A method for selectively binding and separating at least one component from whole blood or a body fluid, wherein said blood or body fluid is allowed to pass through a rigid integral separation matrix without being excluded therefrom, said matrix having a porous structure with a pore size ranging from 5 micron to 500 micron as well as an active surface ranging from 0.5 cm 2  to 10 m 2 , which is able to bind said at least one component.  
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein said porous structure has been obtained by means of a sintering, an extrusion, a moulding, or a foaming process.  
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein said matrix is made of a metal, inorganic oxide, carbon, glass, a ceramic, a synthetic polymer, and/or a natural polymer, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 3 , wherein said synthetic or natural polymer has been coated onto said metal, high surface area inorganic oxide, carbon, glass, ceramic, synthetic polymer, and/or natural polymer, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 4 , wherein said synthetic polymer is a polyolefine, a vinylic polymer, a fluorine containing polymer, a polyacrylate, a polyamide, a polyimide, a polyimine, a polystyrene and its copolymers, a silicone rubber, a polyester, a polycarbonate, a polyuretane, a poly sulfonate, a polyglycol, a polyether, or a polyalkydoxide, or a copolymer or a hybrid thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 4 , wherein said natural polymer is a polysaccharide, a polycarbohydrate, a polyamino acid, a polylactic acid, or a polyglycolic acid, or a copolymer or a hybrid thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 3 , wherein said metal is magnetic.  
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein said synthetic or natural polymer has been coated onto said magnetic metal.  
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 8 , wherein said synthetic polymer is a polyolefine, a vinylic polymer, a fluorine containing polymer, a polyacrylate, a polyamide, a polyimide, a polyimine, a polystyrene and its copolymers, a silicone rubber, a polyester, a polycarbonate, a polyuretane, a poly sulfonate, a polyglycol, a polyether, or a polyalkydoxide, or a copolymer or a hybrid thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 8 , wherein said natural polymer is a polysaccharide, a polycarbohydrate, a polyamino acid, a polylactic acid, or a polyglycolic acid, or a copolymer or a hybrid thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein said separation matrix has the shape of a disk, a rod, a cylinder, a ring, a sphere, a tube, or a hollow tube.  
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 1 , which is carried out in a device ( 1 ) comprising a housing ( 2 ), an inlet ( 3 ), an outlet ( 4 ), and said at least one separation matrix ( 5   a ,  5   b , . . . ).  
     
     
         13 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein said device has several separation matrixes ( 5   a ,  5   b , . . . ), each selectively and separately removing at least one component from whole blood or a body fluid.  
     
     
         14 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein the flow rate through said device is ranging from 5 ml/h to 6 000 ml/min.  
     
     
         15 . A method for selectively binding and separating at least one component from whole blood or a body fluid, wherein said blood or body fluid is allowed to pass through a rigid integral separation matrix without being excluded therefrom, said matrix having a porous structure with a pore size ranging from 5 micron to 500 micron as well as an active surface ranging from 0.5 cm to 10 m, said matrix comprising at least one functional group that has been introduced by means of coating and/or surface modification of said porous structure, said at least one functional group alone or in combination with non-functionalized regions of said porous structure being able to bind said at least one component.  
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein said porous structure has been obtained by means of a sintering, an extrusion, a moulding, or a foaming process.  
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein said matrix is made of a metal, inorganic oxide, carbon, glass, a ceramic, a synthetic polymer, and/or a natural polymer, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 17 , wherein said synthetic or natural polymer has been coated onto said metal, high surface area inorganic oxide, carbon, glass, ceramic, synthetic polymer, and/or natural polymer, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 18 , wherein said synthetic polymer is a polyolefine, a vinylic polymer, a fluorine containing polymer, a polyacrylate, a polyamide, a polyimide, a polyimine, a polystyrene and its copolymers, a silicone rubber, a polyester, a polycarbonate, a polyuretane, a poly sulfonate, a polyglycol, a polyether, or a polyalkydoxide, or a copolymer or a hybrid thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 18 , wherein said natural polymer is a polysaccharide, a polycarbohydrate, a polyamino acid, a polylactic acid, or a polyglycolic acid, or a copolymer or a hybrid thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The method as in  claim 17 , wherein said metal is magnetic.  
     
     
         22 . The method as in  claim 21 , wherein said synthetic or natural polymer has been coated onto said magnetic metal.  
     
     
         23 . The method as in  claim 22 , wherein said synthetic polymer is a polyolefine, a vinylic polymer, a fluorine containing polymer, a polyacrylate, a polyamide, a polyimide, a polyimine, a polystyrene and its copolymers, a silicone rubber, a polyester, a polycarbonate, a polyuretane, a poly sulfonate, a polyglycol, a polyether, or a polyalkydoxide, or a copolymer or a hybrid thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The method as in  claim 22 , wherein said natural polymer is a polysaccharide, a polycarbohydrate, a polyamino acid, a polylactic acid, or a polyglycolic acid, or a copolymer or a hybrid thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein said surface modification has been accomplished by means of electrodeposition, electroevaporation, plasma chemical deposition, deposition from an ion plasma flow, plasma polymerization, plasma enhanced surface polymer deposition, or chemical vapor deposition.  
     
     
         26 . The method as in  claim 25 , wherein said at least one functional group is a sulfhydryl, a carboxylate, an amine, an aldehyde, a ketone, a hydroxyl, a halogen, a hydrazide, or an active hydrogen.  
     
     
         27 . The method as in  claim 26 , wherein a ligand has been coupled to said at least one functional group in a covalent way.  
     
     
         28 . The method as in  claim 27 , wherein said ligand is a protein, a peptide, an antibody or a fragment thereof, a carbohydrate, a polysaccharide, a hormone, an antioxidant, a glycoprotein, a lipoprotein, a lipid, a fat soluble vitamin, a bile acid, a reactive dye, allantoin, uric acid, or polymyxin, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         29 . The method as in  claim 27 , wherein a crosslinker has been covalently coupled between said at least one functional group and said ligand.  
     
     
         30 . The method as in  claim 29 , wherein said crosslinker is a homobifunctional, a heterobifunctional, or a trifunctional crosslinker.  
     
     
         31 . The method as in  claim 29 , wherein said crosslinker has been covalently coupled as a spacer between said at least one functional group and said ligand.  
     
     
         32 . The method as in  claim 31 , wherein said spacer is a silane, a diisocyanate, a glycolate, a polyethyleneglycol, a succinimidyl reagent, a dihydrazine, adipicd, a diamine, an amino acid, an oligoamino acid, a polyamino acid, a peptide, or a protein.  
     
     
         33 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein said separation matrix has the shape of a disk, a rod, a cylinder, a ring, a sphere, a tube, or a hollow tube.  
     
     
         34 . The method as in  claim 15 , which is carried out in a device ( 1 ) comprising a housing ( 2 ), an inlet ( 3 ), an outlet ( 4 ), and said at least one separation matrix ( 5   a ,  5   b , . . . ).  
     
     
         35 . The method as in  claim 34 , wherein said device has several separation matrixes ( 5   a ,  5   b , . . . ), each selectivley and separately removing at least one component from whole blood or a body fluid.  
     
     
         36 . The method as in  claim 35 , wherein the flow rate through said device is ranging from 5 ml/h to 6 000 ml/min.  
     
     
         37 . Use of a bile acid moiety immobilized on a support for eliminating a component from an aqueous solution comprising the same.  
     
     
         38 . The use as in  claim 37 , wherein said bile acid moiety is a deoxycholic acid moiety.