Abstract: This invention teaches a method of targeted apheresis that can be used to treat a variety of different diseases including infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and reducing circulating biomarkers associated with certain disorders e.g. pre-eclampsia. This invention discloses the use of apheresis membranes as the support matrix upon which one or more different binding agents (e.g. antibodies, aptamers, binding peptides, soluble receptors), and/or ligands (e.g. antigens, serum proteins, hormones, cytokines and cell markers) are attached. During targeted apheresis the patient's blood will come into contact with one or more of these immobilized binding agents or ligands and any targeted harmful factor in the blood will be bound out of circulation. The cleaned blood is then returned to the patient. Reducing the concentration of the harmful substance in blood will alleviate the symptoms of the disease.

Abstract: This invention describes a rapid assay for measuring the ratio of glycated albumin to total albumin in blood. Patients with diabetes have elevated levels of glucose in their blood that can react with plasma albumin to form glycated albumin. The amount of glycated albumin formed is directly correlated with the level of plasma glucose that the albumin has been exposed to over a period of time. The ratio of glycated albumin to total albumin in blood will provide an indication of the average amount of protein glycation that occurred over the preceding 2-3 week period. The test is performed using a disposable strip or cassette that contains the testing reagents and the results are measured in a measuring instrument that automatically reads, calculates and displays the final result. The results of tests performed over a period of time are stored in the instrument's memory and presented in a numerical or graphical format so that the individual's glycated albumin level can be monitored over time.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: This invention describes the use of anti-IL-1 antibody as a targeting agent attached to liposomes incorporating anti-inflammatory drugs to treat arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. A variety of steroidal and non-steroidal drugs and disease modifying drugs and other anti-inflammatory compounds may be incorporated into the anti-IL-1 antibody coated liposomes. The anti-IL-1 antibody coated drug liposomes will accumulate within the inflamed site where the drug is released for maximum therapeutic effect. Other nanosized drug delivery vehicles such as dendrimers, micelles, nanocapsules and nanoparticles may be similarly coated with anti-IL-1 antibody and used to deliver the drug to the site of inflammation. Also in lieu of the anti-IL-1 antibody other IL-1 binding agents such as anti-IL-1 aptamers and anti-IL-1 binding peptides may be used to coat various nanosized drug delivery vehicles in order to deliver the drug to the site of inflammation.

Abstract: This invention describes the use of anti-TNF-a antibody as a targeting agent attached to liposomes incorporating anti-inflammatory drugs to treat arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. A variety of steroidal and non-steroidal drugs and disease modifying drugs and other anti-inflammatory compounds may be incorporated into the anti-TNF-a coated liposomes. The anti-TNF-a coated drug liposomes will accumulate within the inflamed site where the drug is released for maximum therapeutic effect. Other nanosized drug delivery vehicles such as dendrimers, micelles, nanocapsules and nanoparticles may be similarly coated with anti-TNF-a antibody and used to deliver the drug to the site of inflammation. Also in lieu of the anti-TNF-a antibody other TNF-a binding agents such as aptamers and binding peptides may be used to coat the various nanosized drug delivery vehicles such as micelles, dendrimers, nanocapsules and nanoparticles in order to deliver the drug to the site of inflammation.

Abstract: This invention describes the use of sTNF-R as a targeting agent attached to liposomes incorporating anti-inflammatory drugs to treat arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. A variety of steroidal and non-steroidal drugs and disease modifying drugs and other anti-inflammatory compounds may be incorporated into the sTNF-R coated liposomes. The sTNF-R coated drug liposomes will accumulate within the inflamed site where the drug is released for maximum therapeutic effect. Other nanosized drug delivery vehicles such as dendrimers, micelles, nanocapsules and nanoparticles may be similarly coated with sTNF-R and used to deliver the drug to the site of inflammation.

Abstract: This invention uses “Targeted Apheresis” to treat patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and other autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. “Targeted Apheresis” is a process whereby only the pathogenic and pro-inflammatory elements associated with the disease symptoms are simultaneously and selectively removed from the blood by passing the blood through an extracorporeal affinity device containing selective binding agents. Removal of these pathogenic and pro-inflammatory elements will ameliorate the symptoms of autoimmune disease and may prolong the period of disease remission.

Abstract: A process for treating tumors by administering a mixture of cancer fighting drugs incorporated into a stabilized liposomal formulation. Each cancer drug is selected to target a different phase of the cell-cycle of the cancer cell thus expanding the number of cancer cells that can be killed at one time without compromising the safety of the patient. The stabilized multi-drug liposomes are designed to extravasate thru “leaky” blood capillaries supplying the tumor and enter the tumor tissue where they will accumulate over time and ultimately released to kill surrounding tumor cells. The multi-drug liposomes are likewise unable to extravasate thru normal blood capillaries and will thus be less toxic to normal tissues.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: This invention describes a method whereby human autoimmune antibodies are used as carrier compounds to deliver imaging agents and pharmaceutical drugs to the tumor in the human patient. These autoantibodies have the propensity to localize in necrotic areas of tumors but not in healthy normal tissues. By combining various pharmaceutical agents with these carrier proteins it is possible to localize these agents within the necrotic areas of tumors in cancer patients. The carrier proteins may be combined with a variety of imaging agents for detection and diagnosis of tumors, and/or with a variety of radioactive or cytotoxic compounds for cancer treatment.

Abstract: This invention describes a rapid immunochromatographic assay for measuring the ratio of glycated albumin to total albumin in saliva. Patients with diabetes have elevated levels of glucose in their blood that can react with plasma albumin to form glycated albumin. The amount of glycated albumin formed is directly correlated with the level of plasma glucose that the albumin has been exposed to over a period of time. Saliva albumin is derived from plasma albumin and therefore contains glycated and non-glycated albumin fractions that can be measured. The ratio of glycated albumin to total albumin in saliva will provide an indication of the average amount of protein glycation that occurred over the preceding 2-3 week period. The test is performed using a disposable strip that contains the testing reagents and the results are measured in a measuring instrument that automatically reads, calculates and displays the final result.

Abstract: This invention describes a method whereby autoimmune antinuclear antibodies are used as a targeting agent to deliver drug nanoparticles or drug liposomes to the tumor or disease site. The antinuclear antibodies have the propensity to localize in areas of tissue necrosis where dead cells have released their nuclear material into the extracellular environment. Many tumors have areas of necrosis that can be targeted using antinuclear antibody coated drug nanoparticles or liposomes. Similarly, many infectious diseases have areas of necrosis and can also be targeted using antinuclear antibody coated drug nanoparticles or liposomes. Similarly, many immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis have areas of inflammation where there is cell death, and these inflammatory sites can also be targeted using antinuclear antibody coated drug nanoparticles or liposomes.

Abstract: This invention describes a rapid assay for measuring the ratio of glycated albumin to total albumin in blood. Patients with diabetes have elevated levels of glucose in their blood that can react with plasma albumin to form glycated albumin. The amount of glycated albumin formed is directly correlated with the level of plasma glucose that the albumin has been exposed to over a period of time. The ratio of glycated albumin to total albumin in blood will provide an indication of the average amount of protein glycation that occurred over the preceding 2-3 week period. The test is performed using a disposable strip or cassette that contains the testing reagents and the results are measured in a measuring instrument that automatically reads, calculates and displays the final result. The results of tests performed over a period of time are stored in the instrument's memory and presented in a numerical or graphical format so that the individual's glycated albumin level can be monitored over time.

Abstract: This invention describes a point-of-care or home use device for measuring the ratio of glycated albumin to total albumin in saliva and other body fluids. Diabetics and prediabetics may have elevated levels of glucose in their blood that can react with plasma albumin to form glycated albumin. The amount of glycated albumin formed is directly correlated with the level of plasma glucose that the albumin has been exposed to over a period of time. Saliva albumin is derived from plasma albumin and therefore contains glycated and non-glycated albumin fractions that can be measured. The ratio of glycated albumin to total albumin in saliva will provide an indication of the average amount of protein glycation that occurred over the preceding 2-3 week period. The test is performed using a disposable strip or cassette that contains the testing reagents and the results are measured in a measuring instrument that automatically reads, calculates and displays the final result.

Abstract: This invention describes a method whereby selected aptamers are used as a carrier compound to deliver drug nanoparticles and/or drug liposomes to the tumor or disease site. These aptamers have the propensity to localize in areas of tissue necrosis. Many tumors have areas of necrosis that can be targeted using aptamer coated drug nanoparticles and/or aptamer coated drug liposomes. Similarly many infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases have areas of inflammation and/or areas of necrosis and can also be targeted using aptamer coated drug nanoparticles and/or aptamer coated drug liposomes.