Automated Blood Processing

The primary sources for obtaining human PBMCs is through buffy coats or leukopheresis products. In either case, it is necessary to process these leukocyte products into a purified PBMC product shortly after collection.

VaxDesign has developed a cost-effective, automated, and highly efficient method of processing buffy coats into purified PBMC products for the research and development community. A key feature to the process we have developed is that there is no blood exposure; we have developed a total bag process with minimal biohazard exposure during blood processing. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are a portion of the leukocyte fraction that deals specifically with immune responses. PBMCs are used for examining a wide variety of conditions from normal health status, to determination of specific cell responses involved in any immune reaction. It is expected there will be interested in purified sub-populations derived from PBMCs (NK cells, T cells, B cells, dendritic cells (DCs), etc.) as well. For example, monocytes can be used as means to generate dendritic cells for cancer therapies, or lymphocytes (T and B cells) used to determine levels of protection (antibody titers or cytotoxic activity) against pathogens.

We have developed a custom engineered and automated system to provide an economic and reliable source for purified human derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and their sub-populations to researchers and clinicians. VaxDesign Corporation will license the methods, processes, training, equipment, and technical consultation to support and automate purification of human derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and their sub-populations derived from either a buffy coat or a leukopheresis product.