title: Nanomagnet-based removal of lead and digoxin from living rats.
abstract: In a number of clinical conditions such as intoxication, bacteraemia or autoimmune diseases the removal of the disease-causing factor from blood would be the most direct cure. However, physicochemical characteristics of the target compounds limit the applicability of classical filtration and diffusion-based processes. In this work, we present a first in vivo magnetic blood purification rodent animal model and demonstrate its ability to rapidly clear toxins from blood circulation using two model toxins with stable plasma levels (lead (Pb(2+)) and digoxin). Ultra-strong functionalized metal nanomagnets are employed to eliminate the toxin from whole blood in an extracorporeal circuit. In the present experimental demonstration over 40% of the toxin (i.e. lead or digoxin) was removed within the first 10 minutes and over 75% within 40 minutes. After capturing the target substance, a magnetic trap prevents the toxin-loaded nanoparticles from entering the blood circulation. Elemental analysis and magnetic hysteresis measurements confirm full particle recovery by simple magnetic separation (residual particle concentration below 1 μg mL(-1) (detection limit)). We demonstrate that magnetic separation-based blood purification offers rapid blood cleaning from noxious agents, germs or other deleterious materials with relevance to a number of clinical conditions. Based on this new approach, current blood purification technologies can be extended to efficiently remove disease-causing factors, e.g. overdosed drugs, bacteria or cancer cells without being limited by filter cut-offs or column surface saturation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland. inge.herrmann@usz.ch
authors.forename: Inge K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schlegel
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Christoph M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Senn
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasler
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gschwind
authors.forename: Ann-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hirt
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.forename: Pierre-Alain
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Clavien
authors.forename: Wendelin J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beck-Schimmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic / Q000737:chemistry; D004077:Digoxin / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D058085:Iron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D058085:Iron Compounds; C541825:iron carbide; D007854:Lead; D010984:Platinum; D004077:Digoxin