Using Magnets to Clean Blood

Sep-16-14 Researchers have created a 'bio-spleen' that uses magnets to extract toxins from blood, opening the door to a new way to treat sepsis as well as Ebola and even HIV.

The bio-spleen works in conjunction with nanobeads that have been coated with the naturally-occurring MBL protein (known for its ability to bind to a wide range of pathogens, among other things). Once the nanobeads have been injected into the patient's blood, the MBL will bind with the pathogens, attaching them to the nanobeads where they can be removed with a magnet. The clean blood can then be returned to the patient, with no need for extreme antibiotic treatments.

The device has only been tested in animals so far—and years of testing lie ahead—but the technology shows extreme potential in dealing with antibiotic-resistant microbes as well as treating Ebola, the Marburg virus and HIV (which also bind to MBL).

More Info about this Invention:

[THE-SCIENTIST.COM]
[WYSS.HARVARD.EDU]

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