Nanomagnet-based removal of lead and digoxin from living rats

Nanoscale. 2013 Sep 21;5(18):8718-23. doi: 10.1039/c3nr02468g.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbon Compounds, Inorganic / chemistry
  • Digoxin / blood
  • Digoxin / isolation & purification*
  • Iron Compounds / chemistry
  • Lead / blood
  • Lead / isolation & purification*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Magnetics*
  • Male
  • Models, Animal
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles / metabolism*
  • Platinum / chemistry
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Carbon Compounds, Inorganic
  • Iron Compounds
  • iron carbide
  • Lead
  • Platinum
  • Digoxin