Vaccine generation
Inventors
Chen, James • Clark, Tanner • Lendvay, Thomas
Assignees
WASHINGTON, University of • University of Washington • Seattle Children's Hospital
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11529153-B2
Publication Date
2022-12-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus for vaccine generation includes a syringe with a cavity that includes a solution with photosensitizers. Microbial particles are added to the solution. A light source is capable of emitting one or more wavebands of light that are effectively absorbed by the one photosensitizers to generate singlet oxygen in the solution and other radical species that rapidly react with and damage lipids, proteins, DNA, and RNA of the microbial particles. This damage produces immunogens that can be applied as a vaccine to viruses and other infectious microbial particles. A plunger that fits within a proximal opening in the syringe is used for forcing the solution including the immunogens through the filter and out of the syringe while the photosensitizers, debris and unwanted microbial particles are trapped within the filter.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an apparatus for vaccine generation that uses a syringe defining a cavity containing a solution with one or more photosensitizers. One or more light sources emit light at one or more wavebands that activate the photosensitizers to generate singlet oxygen in the solution, and interaction of the singlet oxygen with a plurality of microbial particles added to the solution creates a plurality of immunogens in the solution.
The apparatus exposes the photosensitizers in the syringe cavity for a period of time long enough to generate singlet oxygen that causes inactivation of the microbial particles and generation of the immunogens. A plunger fits within an opening at a proximal end of the syringe, and advancement of the plunger from the proximal end to another position at the distal end causes evacuation of the solution with the plurality of immunogens through the other opening at the distal end.
One or more filters are positioned within internal portions of the cavity to trap one or more of debris and the plurality of microbial particles during evacuation of the solution. In related method aspects, a syringe is filled with a solution including the photosensitizers, microbial particles are added, light is applied while the solution remains inside the cavity, and after light exposure the mixture is evacuated through internal filters to produce a fluid containing immunogens for use as a vaccine.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims: clm-00001 (apparatus), clm-00010 (method), and clm-00011 (method). Across these independent claims, the coverage centers on photodynamic activation of photosensitizers inside a syringe to generate singlet oxygen for inactivation of microbial particles and creation of immunogens, followed by plunger-driven evacuation through filters positioned within internal portions of the syringe cavity.
Syringe cavity with photosensitizers for singlet oxygen generation
A syringe defining a cavity for containing a solution that includes one or more photosensitizers, wherein one or more light sources emit light at one or more wavebands that activate the one or more photosensitizers to generate singlet oxygen in the solution.
Photodynamic inactivation of microbial particles to create immunogens
A plurality of microbial particles are added to the solution, wherein a plurality of immunogens are created in the solution by interaction of the singlet oxygen with a plurality of microbial particles, and the light exposure period is long enough to generate the singlet oxygen that causes inactivation of the microbial particles and generation of the immunogens.
Plunger-driven evacuation through distal opening
A plunger fits within an opening at a proximal end of the syringe, wherein advancement of the plunger from the proximal end to another position at the distal end causes evacuation of the solution with the plurality of immunogens through the other opening at the distal end.
Internal filters positioned within the cavity during evacuation
One or more filters positioned within one or more internal portions of the cavity trap one or more of debris and the plurality of microbial particles during evacuation of the solution from the syringe.
Light exposure inside the syringe cavity
Exposing the solution to light while inside the cavity of the syringe, wherein the light is effectively absorbed by the one or more photosensitizers to generate singlet oxygen, wherein the singlet oxygen inactivates the plurality of microbial particles and produce a plurality of immunogens in the solution.
Forcing immunogen-containing fluid through internal filters for vaccine use
After light exposure for a period long enough to generate singlet oxygen, pressing a plunger within the cavity of the syringe to force the solution through one or more filters to produce a fluid containing the plurality of immunogens for use as a vaccine, wherein the one or more filters are positioned within one or more internal portions of the cavity.
The independent claims collectively define syringe-based vaccine generation where photosensitizers in a syringe cavity are activated by light to generate singlet oxygen that inactivates microbial particles and produces immunogens, and where the immunogen-containing solution is evacuated via a plunger while internal cavity-positioned filters trap debris and/or microbial particles.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?