American National Red Cross

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

The Rowland Institute for Science

Stephen J Wagner

Louis Cincotta

Mark Seaver

Andrew Myrup

James C Crookston

Christina Celluzzi

Asymmetric cyanine dyes of Formula I bind nucleic acid but not red blood cell membrane, and function as photosensitizers when rigidly bound but not when free in solution. Unbound dye thus causes minimal oxidative damage. The dyes do not substantially accumulate in red blood cells, thereby minimizing hemolysis due to oxidative damage. Biological fluids can be disinfected by mixing the fluid with these asymmetric cyanine dye that binds to nucleic acid, irradiating the mixture, and recovering clinically significant components from the biological fluid and/or assaying the fluid for pathogens.

Disinfection of biological fluids using asymmetric cyanine dyes

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for the rapid and efficient collection and purification of activated monocytes. The methods and apparatus of the present invention provide means for effecting the collection and purification in an aseptic environment. The method involves filtering a blood component mixture through a monocyte-adhering filter; washing the blood component mixture; backflushing the filter with a physiological solution; and backflushing the filter with Dextran-40/serum albumin.

Method for enriching adherent monocyte populations

A method for determining the presence of bacteria in a platelet or red blood cell sample is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: lysing a substantial portion of the platelets or red blood cells; staining the bacteria using a membrane permeable nucleic acid stain; filtering the sample using a membrane filter with a suitable pore size so that a material containing the stained bacteria is retained on the membrane filter; and analyzing the material retained on the membrane filter using epifluorescence microscopy and/or digital image acquisition and analysis to determine the presence of bacteria in the sample. The method allows the detection of bacterial contamination in platelets or red blood cells at clinically significant levels in a relatively short period of time.

Automated epifluorescence microscopy for detection of bacterial contamination in platelets

This invention is directed to a method for inactivating pathogenic contaminants, such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and leukocytes, frequently found in whole blood or blood components, such as red blood cells or plasma, which comprises treating whole blood or blood components with an amphiphilic phenothiazin-5-ium dye and light. Preferred amphiphilic phenothiazin-5-ium dyes are those having the formula ##STR1## wherein each of R.sub.1, R.sub.1 ', R.sub.2, and R.sub.2 ' is independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a nitrile, an aralkyl group, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an amine group, and a hydrogen atom, each of R.sub.3, R.sub.3 ', R.sub.4, R.sub.4 ', R.sub.5 and R.sub.5 ' is independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a nitrile, an azide, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, a heteroaryl group, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amine group, and a hydrogen atom, or any two of R.sub.1, R.sub.1 ', R.sub.2, R.sub.2 ', R.sub.3, R.sub.3 ', R.sub.4, R.sub.4 ', R.sub.5 and R.sub.5 ' together form a aryl or heteroaryl ring; Y is selected from the group consisting of S, Se and Te; and X is a counter-ion.

Intracellular and extracellular decontamination of whole blood and blood

This invention provides methods for inactivating pathogenic contaminants in whole blood, plasma, cellular blood components, or in any combination thereof, by adding a phenthiazin-5-ium dye(s) thereto and irradiating said dye-containing composition for an effective length of time with light of wavelengths from 560 to 800 nm or red light, of an effective intensity, whereby the irradiation in conjunction with the dye(s) inactivate substantially all pathogenic contaminants contained therein. The methods of this invention inactivate pathogenic contaminants, such as viruses, bacteria and parasites, without substantially altering the whole blood, plasma, cellular blood components, or combinations thereof, such that they are suitable for transfusion.

Growing community of inventors

Columbia, MD, United States of America

Stephen J Wagner