Device Lessens Negative Effects of Stem Cell Transplants Says General
BioTechnology Expert
NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Indianapolis, IN, United States,
02/01/2008 - Biotech company creates device that filters out harmful
effects of cryoprotectant.
Stem cell transplants are used to treat patients whose bone marrow
and other blood cells have been negatively affected by cancer and
other diseases. Because stem cells immediately ready for transplant
are nearly impossible to obtain, any patient seeking to undergo a
stem cell transplant must use cells that have been frozen, or
cryopreserved. Unfortunately, the best way to currently freeze stem
cells involves using DMSO, a potentially toxic solution that aides in
cryopreservation.
Typically, frozen-thawed stem cells are filtered into the body along
with DMSO, because there is not an effective way to remove the DMSO
without losing a significant amount of stem cells. Unfortunately, the
effects of DMSO on a patient range from fever and nausea to violent
cramping and even death. The biotech company General BioTechnology
LLC in Indianapolis, Indiana has developed a machine that filters out
the DMSO from thawed stem cells and therefore lessens the negative
affect of the preservative on the patient.
Following chemotherapy treatments and radiation treatments, more and
more cancer patients are seeking stem cell transplants as a method of
recovery. If a patient's bone marrow stops producing new blood cells,
a stem cell transplant can destroy the dysfunctional marrow and will
ideally regenerate growth of new blood cells. But since the
cryopreservative DMSO's side effects are just as bad as those from
chemotherapy, many patients neglect considering the benefits of a
stem cell transplant because the immediate risk is too great. General
BioTechnology LLC believes its device can change all this. During
Phase I research, General BioTechnology CEO Dr. Erik Woods developed
a sophisticated cell washing process that results in a nearly
complete recovery of unharmed stem cells.
Dr. Woods' device has the potential to be operational in any hospital
or health care facility. The device will be easy to use and ideally
will arrive at a health care facility with everything a provider
needs to use the machine. The dialysis process utilized by the device
can also remove other, unwanted constituents from blood using the
same dialysis process, so the usability of this machine extends
beyond stem cell transplants and into mainstream health care.
Agency / Source: General BioTechnology, LLC
http://www.newswire
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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