Dominique Fink

Title: Innovations by Inventor Dominique Fink

Introduction

Dominique Fink is a notable inventor based in Montreal, Canada. He has made significant contributions to the field of medical treatments through his innovative patents. With a total of 3 patents, Fink's work focuses on utilizing enzymes to address inflammatory responses and polysaccharide degradation.

Latest Patents

Fink's latest patents include the use of heparinases to decrease inflammatory response. Heparinase enzymes can be employed as a medical treatment to reduce localized inflammatory responses. The treatment of activated endothelium with heparinase inhibits leukocyte rolling, adhesion, and extravasation. Most of the heparin and heparan sulfate on endothelial cell surfaces and in basement membranes is degraded by exposure to heparinase. Additionally, immobilized chemokines, which are attached to heparin/heparan sulfate on activated endothelium, are solubilized by heparinase digestion. Heparinase can be infused into the vascular system to inhibit the accumulation of leukocytes in inflamed tissue and decrease damage resulting from localized inflammations. Targeting of heparinase to activated endothelium can be accomplished through localized administration and/or use of genetically engineered heparinase containing endothelium ligand-binding domains. Another significant patent involves chondroitin lyase enzymes. This invention describes a method for the production of two highly purified enzymes capable of degrading chondroitin sulfate polysaccharides. A multi-step purification method incorporating cell disruption, cation exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography, high-resolution ion exchange chromatography, and size exclusion is outlined. A 77,000 ± 5,000 Dalton protein capable of degrading chondroitin sulfates A and C and a 55,000 ± 2,300 Dalton protein capable of degrading dermatan sulfate were isolated. The genes encoding these enzymes, chondroitinase AC and chondroitinase B, respectively, have been cloned, and methods for their use are described.

Career Highlights

Throughout his career, Dominique Fink has worked with reputable companies such as Ibex Technologies R and D, Inc. and BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. His work in these organizations has contributed to advancements in medical research and enzyme applications.

Collaborations

Fink has collaborated with notable individuals in