Real Time Adaptive External Immune System
Tech ID: 21394 / UC Case 2010-523-0
Abstract
A system using nanotechnology to synthetically replicate the body's immune function for uses in body fluid filtration, stimulation of immune system, therapeutics and diagnostics.
Full Description
Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a novel system using nanotechnology to synthetically replicate the body's immune function. The method involves the binding of a wide range of targets to nanoparticles over which bodily fluids are passed for filtration, diagnostic, or immune stimulation functions.
Initial results using particles coated with CD14 antibody in rhesus macaques successfully resulted in the conversion of target monocytes to functional macrophages. This result demonstrates the immune modulation properties of the system as well as the possibility of manipulating captured cell lines that retain functionality for further therapeutic use. It also demonstrates the novel possibility of using cross-species targets to generate an immune response which is achievable because of the external presentation of the targets. Anticipated possible applications include:
- capture of blood-borne parasites that effect both detection and removal of parasites;
- capture and removal of cytokines to reduce the life-threatening effects of shock;
- immune stimulation for cancer, bacterial, or parasitic infections by presenting immune activation signals to bodily fluids;
- generation of human antibody targets;
- release of therapeutic agents into bodily fluids;
- diagnosis of disease and monitoring of vital systems; and
- array platform allows for multiple targets to be used simultaneously, increases sensitivity and increases speed of diagnosis.
Applications
The invention has the following applications:
- external apparatus for real-time filtering of targets such as pathogens, proteins, and endotoxins from patient body fluid
- generation of an immune response (modified vaccination) in body fluids without introducign foreign agents into the body
- diagnosis tool for disease agents or body-fluid-borne markers
- release of therapeutic agents into bodily fluids
Features/Benefits
Current methods to remove unwanted agents from bodily fluids (e.g. plasmapheresis) fall short by failing to occur in real-time and by inducing negative side effects such as transfusion reactions and clotting complications. Other methods such as dialysis also fail to remove many targets of high interest such as pathogens, viruses, bacteria, cytokines, cell lines, proteins, endotoxins, and particulates. The apparatus and method described here provide a superior system for body fluid filtration through the ability to bind a vast range of targets in real time. The method can also "communicate" with the innate immune system to induce an immune response without introducing foreign bodies (e.g. vaccines) into the body, and can serve as a tool for diagnosis of a wide range of conditions. The system may be especially useful for binding and removing pathogens that have become multi-drug resistant or are novel without effective vaccines (such as biowarfare pathogens). Further, as a diagnostic tool, multiple targets can be used simultaneously, thereby reducing diagnosis time and required sample volume. The targeting-specificity and breadth of application of the system surpass those of currently-used systems.
Patent Status
Patent Pending
Inventors
- Courtney, Angela
- Spinner, Abigail
Other Information
Categorized As
Related cases
2010-523-0
Keywords
nanotechnology, body fluid filtration, blood filtration, immune, diagnostics
Contact
Robin L. Stears / rlstears@ucdavis.edu / tel: View Phone Number. Please reference Tech ID #21394.