Silver Encapsulated Magnetic Nanoparticles for Pathogen Inactivation in Platelets

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this Phase I project is to demonstrate the feasibility of combining the well known and accepted antimicrobial metallic silver compound with magnetic nanoparticles and perform preliminary evaluation of its efficacy in bacterial inactivation in cellular blood product, such as platelets. Lynntech, in collaboration with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX and The University of New York at Binghamton, will synthesis these silver coated magnetic nanoparticles (Ag-MP), which can be completely retrieved from platelets after the bacterial inactivation process. Our preliminary data with bacteria spiked blood platelets and broth have shown that both Gram positive and negative bacteria as well as aerobic and anaerobic bacteria can be inactivated. According to the National Blood Data Resource Center, about 13.9 million units of whole blood are donated in the United States each year. The market for blood products is over $ 10 billion and growing. With more than 90 million units of blood donated world-wide every year, the need for methods to improve the safety of blood products is truly significant. The economic impact associated with the savings from infection prevention is also enormous (when cases are considered as nosocomial infections, the estimated annual cost range from $296 million to $2.3 billion). Blood platelets are very important in modern medicine; however, they are very prone to bacterial contamination and their short-term shelf-life. Bacterial contamination of platelets is the leading cause of mobility and mortality from a transfusion-transmitted infection. Bacterial contamination rates for platelets have been estimated to occur at a frequency of 1:2,000 - 1:3,000 platelet units. The risk of receiving a bacterially contaminated platelet is 50 to 250 times higher than the combined risk of transfusion- related infections from HIV, hepatitis B and C, and human T cell leukemia (HTLV I/II) viruses. New compounds developed to counter microbial contamination in blood components have been developed and showed slight efficacy in deterring infections; however, these methods employ the addition of mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic chemicals that alter the genetic makeup of the microbes. Residual amounts of these chemicals can remain within the transfusion product and then be transfused. In some cases, these chemicals may interact with the product itself, potentially changing its character. The main objective of this Phase I is to develop a bactericide that will address the above challenges. This technology provides an opportunity for better management of the platelet supply affecting millions of Americans annually, specifically for preventing bacterial related infections and sepsis through transfusion of contaminated platelets. The economic impact is also enormous considering the market size and associated savings from prolonging platelet shelf life and improving infection prevention. Once developed, the product can also be expanded for use with other blood product components and other medical sterilization applications such as water sterilization, infected surgical incisions, trauma and burn wounds, etc.