Targeted Apheresis for Pre-eclampsia Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for pre-eclampsia, such as pharmaceuticals targeting sFlt-1, risk harming both mother and baby by affecting cellular Flt-1 receptors, highlighting the need for a safer method to reduce circulating sFlt-1 levels and allow natural PlGF and VEGF to function effectively.

Innovation Solution

Targeted apheresis using immobilized anti-sFlt-1 aptamers within an affinity device to selectively remove circulating sFlt-1 receptors from the blood, preventing them from interacting with cellular Flt-1 receptors, thereby reducing the risk of pre-eclampsia symptoms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If pharmaceuticals or anti-sFlt-1 antibodies are administered to reduce circulating sFlt-1 levels, then the binding of sFlt-1 to PlGF and VEGF is blocked, but cellular Flt-1 receptors are also affected causing harm to mother and baby

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecirculating sFlt-1 levelsVSAvoidharm to mother and baby

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes only the harmful circulating sFlt-1 receptors from the patient's blood through apheresis, leaving the beneficial cellular Flt-1 receptors on trophoblast cells intact. This selective extraction resolves the contradiction by eliminating the pathogenic factor without affecting the functional receptors needed for healthy pregnancy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the Flt-1 receptors into two distinct populations: circulating sFlt-1 (pathogenic) and cellular Flt-1 (beneficial). By targeting only the circulating form for removal while preserving the cellular form, the treatment achieves specificity that resolves the harm caused by non-selective pharmaceutical approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If PlGF and VEGF levels are increased by injection or stimulation, then the growth factor availability is improved, but the effect is limited by the presence of large amounts of sFlt-1 acting as a physiologic sink

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePlGF and VEGF levelsVSAvoideffectiveness of PlGF and VEGF

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful effect of sFlt-1 (acting as a sink that binds and neutralizes PlGF and VEGF) into a benefit by selectively removing sFlt-1 from circulation. This elimination allows the natural PlGF and VEGF to function effectively without being sequestered by sFlt-1, resolving the reliability issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If targeted apheresis using immobilized anti-sFlt-1 aptamers is used, then circulating sFlt-1 is selectively removed without affecting cellular Flt-1, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselectivity of sFlt-1 removalVSAvoidapheresis device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses immobilized anti-sFlt-1 aptamers as intermediaries within the apheresis device to selectively capture circulating sFlt-1. These aptamers act as mediators that bind specifically to sFlt-1 while allowing blood to flow through, enabling selective removal without directly exposing cellular Flt-1 to binding agents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach safely and effectively reduces circulating sFlt-1 levels, allowing natural PlGF and VEGF to perform their functions without harming mother or baby, offering a more stable and standardized treatment option compared to traditional pharmaceuticals.

Implementation Method 1

The targeted apheresis process teaches a means of removing sFlt-1 using anti-sFlt-1 aptamers contained within an affinity device. The immobilized anti-sFlt-1 aptamers described herein are capable of binding to epitopes present on both sFlt-1 and cellular Flt-1.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAptamer binding: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

passing the blood or the plasma fraction through a cartridge containing immobilized anti-sFlt-1 aptamers. The sFlt-1 receptors are bound out by the immobilized anti-sFlt-1 aptamers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAffinity binding: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS8979787B2Treatment of pre-eclampsia using targeted apheresis

Publication Date: 2015.03.17 SMITH HENRY JOHN

AI summary

This invention uses “targeted apheresis” to treat pregnant women who are at risk of developing eclampsia. “Targeted Apheresis” is a process whereby certain growth factor receptors (sFlt-1) circulating in the blood of a pregnant woman at risk of developing pre-eclampsia are selectively removed by passing the blood through a cartridge containing immobilized anti-sFlt-1 aptamers. The circulating sFlt-1 is bound out by the immobilized anti-sFlt-1 aptamers and the cleaned blood is returned to the patient. Removal of circulating sFlt-1 will diminish the risk of developing eclampsia during pregnancy.