PAGE TITLE
Overview
PAGE SUMMARY
High levels of proinflammatory cytokines are associated with high fatality in infectious conditions such as sepsis, liver toxicity, and ebola, which is typically brought about by rapidly escalating levels of cytokines. There is a need for materials and techniques capable of quickly removing cytokines from blood to prevent this “cytokine storm”.
Researchers at Drexel University have discovered that a family of open surface graphitic materials, including exfoliated graphite, graphene aerogels, graphene platelets, and other graphenic materials are excellent and selective adsorbents of proteins, including cytokines. In place of traditional pores, characteristic of activated carbons and other materials used for blood cleansing, this family of adsorbents offer open hydrophobic surfaces which are fully available to hydrophobic domains on targeted proteins, while small hydrophilic materials do not adhere.
APPLICATIONS
TITLE: Applications
Cytokine removal for liver toxicity
Cytokine removal for sepsis
Cytokine removal for ebola virus disease
ADVANTAGES
TITLE:Advantages
Selective removal of target proteins
Cheaper than antibodies or pharmaceutical agents
Fast removal kinetics may eliminate need for blood thinning agents (i.e. heparin)
IP STATUS
Intellectual Property and Development Status
United States Issued Patent- 8,137,560
http://patft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8137560.PN.&OS=PN/8137560&RS=PN/8137560
Commercialization Opportunities
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Contact Information
Web Site
Drexel Nanomaterials Group
http://nano.materials.drexel.edu
For Intellectual Property and Licensing Information:
Elizabeth Poppert, Ph.D.
Licensing Manager
Office of Technology Commercialization
The Left Bank
3180 Chestnut Street, Suite 104
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 1-215-895-0999
Email: lizpoppert@drexel.edu
For Technical Information:
Yury Gogotsi, Ph.D., D.Sc.
Distinguished University Professor and Trustee Chair
Director, A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
3141 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Phone: 1-215-895-6446
E-mail: gogotsi@drexel.edu