Methods for removal, purification, and concentration of viruses and methods of therapy based thereupon
First Claim
1. A method of removing viruses from the blood of an individual having a viral infection, the method comprising:
- obtaining a membrane engrafted with polymeric side chains, each side chain having one or more positively charged functional groups that interact with viruses, the polymeric side chains each having one functional group per repeat unit, each functional group consisting of a single secondary, tertiary, or quaternary amine, and having a single positive charge at physiological pH wherein the membrane has a nominal pore size between 20 nm and 1000 nm;
sequestering blood cells from the individual'"'"'s blood using a plasma separator to produce sequestered blood cells and plasma;
passing the plasma through the membrane to produce filtered plasma;
combining the filtered plasma with the sequestered blood cells to produce filtered blood; and
returning the filtered blood to the individual;
thereby removing viruses from the blood.
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Abstract
The invention is based on the discovery that certain membranes, which include side chains or molecular “brushes” having, for example, tertiary amino functional groups, can be used as highly effective filters to capture viruses/virus particles from liquids without removal of proteins. New methods based on this discovery include removing viruses from liquids such as blood or plasma, removing viruses from pharmaceuticals, concentrating and/or purifying viruses, e.g., for use in gene therapy, and producing recombinant viruses in new bioreactors. The invention also includes new methods of therapy or adjunct therapy for viral infections, in which a patient'"'"'s blood or plasma is filtered through the membranes to remove viruses to reduce the viral load. The invention also includes new bioreactors and viral filters containing the membranes.
106 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of removing viruses from the blood of an individual having a viral infection, the method comprising:
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obtaining a membrane engrafted with polymeric side chains, each side chain having one or more positively charged functional groups that interact with viruses, the polymeric side chains each having one functional group per repeat unit, each functional group consisting of a single secondary, tertiary, or quaternary amine, and having a single positive charge at physiological pH wherein the membrane has a nominal pore size between 20 nm and 1000 nm; sequestering blood cells from the individual'"'"'s blood using a plasma separator to produce sequestered blood cells and plasma; passing the plasma through the membrane to produce filtered plasma; combining the filtered plasma with the sequestered blood cells to produce filtered blood; and returning the filtered blood to the individual;
thereby removing viruses from the blood. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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- 3. A device for removing viruses from a liquid sample, the device comprising a membrane engrafted with polymeric side chains, each side chain having one or more positively charged functional groups that interact with viruses, the polymeric side chains each having one functional group per repeat unit, each functional group consisting of a single secondary, tertiary, or quaternary amine, and having a single positive charge at physiological pH, wherein the membrane has a nominal pore size between 20 nm and 1000 nm.
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11. A method of isolating virus particles, the method comprising
culturing a virus infected cell line in a culture medium under conditions suitable for the production of viruses; -
flowing culture medium containing virus particles through a filter comprising a membrane engrafted with polymeric side chains, each side chain having one or more positively charged functional groups that interact with viruses, the polymeric side chains each having one functional group per repeat unit, each functional group consisting of a single secondary, tertiary, or quaternary amine, and having a single positive charge at physiological pH, wherein the membrane has a nominal pore size between 20 nm and 1000 nm; and eluting virus particles from the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A device for isolating virus particles comprising:
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a bioreactor comprising a vessel suitable for containing a culture medium for the generation of viruses; and a filter comprising at least one membrane engrafted with polymeric side chains, each side chain having one or more positively charged functional groups that interact with viruses, the polymeric side chains each having one functional group per repeat unit, each functional group consisting of a single secondary, tertiary, or quaternary amine, and having a single positive charge at physiological pH, wherein the membrane has a nominal pore size between 20 nm and 1000 nm, wherein the filter is functionally connected to the bioreactor so as to allow virus particles produced in the bioreactor to contact the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification