Artificial Biospleen to Filter Blood Nature News&Comment @NatureNews 11h New device inspired by the spleen can quickly clean blood of everything from E. coli to Ebola bit.ly/1uNLMA7 The device uses a modified version of mannose-binding lectin (MBL), a protein found in humans that binds to sugar molecules on the surfaces of more than 90 different bacteria, viruses and fungi, as well as to the toxins released by dead bacteria that trigger the immune overreaction in sepsis. The researchers coated magnetic nanobeads with MBL. As blood enters the biospleen device, passes by the MBL-equipped nanobeads, which bind to most pathogens. A magnet on the biospleen device then pulls the beads and their quarry out of the blood, which can then be routed back into the patient.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 13:37:06 +0000