Nitric oxide in a pathogen inactivation process

A biological composition comprising:

• (a) a fluid;
• (b) an inactivation-effective, substantially non-toxic amount of an endogenous photosensitizer or endogenously-based derivative photosensitizer;
• and
• (c) dissolved nitric oxide in an amount greater than would be present in said fluid under an air atmosphere at ambient conditions without mixing.

A decontamination system for a fluid comprising:

• (a) a leak-proof transparent or translucent container for the fluid;
• (b) a photosensitizer source for providing photosensitizer to said container, said photosensitizer source being connectible to an inlet of said container;
• (c) a nitric oxide source connectible to an inlet of said container for providing nitric oxide to said container;
• and
• (d) a photoirradiator for irradiating said container.

A method for making a decontamination system comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a set of components comprising:
• (i) a leak-proof transparent or translucent container for a fluid wherein said container comprises one or more inlets;
• (ii) a photosensitizer source for providing photosensitizer to said container, said photosensitizer source comprising an outlet connectible to one of said inlets of said container;
• (iii) a nitric oxide source for providing nitric oxide to said container, said nitric oxide source comprising an outlet connectible to one of said inlets of said container;
• and
• (iv) a photoirradiator for irradiating said container;
• (b) connecting the outlet of said photosensitizer source to an inlet of said container;
• (c) connecting the outlet of said nitric oxide source to an inlet of said container;
• and
• (d) positioning said photoirradiator in radiating proximity to said container.

A method of increasing the storage life of platelets, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing said platelets in solution in a container larger than the volume of the solution;
• (b) adding nitric oxide to said solution to increase dissolved nitric oxide content of said solution in an amount sufficient to improve storage life of said platelets;
• (c) adding a photoactivator to said solution and irradiating said solution to activate said photoactivator;
• and
• (d) storing said platelets for a period greater than five days without destroying the usefulness of said platelets.

A method for treating platelets to inactivate pathogens which may be present therein, comprising the steps of:

• (a) adding 7,8-dimethyl-10-ribityl isoalloxazine to a fluid comprising said platelets in storage solution at a ratio of about 27:73 platelets (in plasma):storage solution, whereby the 7,8-dimethyl-10-ribityl isoalloxazine concentration of said fluid is between about 1 and about 200 micromolar;
• (b) adding nitric oxide gas to the atmosphere in contact with said fluid to increase dissolved nitric oxide content of said fluid in an amount sufficient to increase a vital quality of said platelets, wherein the concentration of said nitric oxide gas is between about 10 ppm and about 500 ppm;
• and
• (c) exposing said fluid to photoradiation at an energy between about 5 and about 12 J/cm2 to activate the photosensitizer, for at least about five to about twenty minutes, to substantially inactivate said pathogens.

A method for treating platelets to inactivate pathogens which may be present therein, comprising the steps of:

• (a) adding 7,8-dimethyl-10-ribityl isoalloxazine to a fluid comprising said platelets in storage solution at a ratio of about 27:73 platelets (in plasma):storage solution, whereby the 7,8-dimethyl-10-ribityl isoalloxazine concentration of said fluid is between about 1 and about 200 micromolar;
• (b) adding L-arginine to said fluid in an amount sufficient to increase a vital quality of said platelets, wherein the concentration of said L-arginine is between about 25 micromolar and about 500 micromolar;
• and
• (c) exposing said fluid to photoradiation at an energy between about 5 and about 12 J/cm2 to activate the photosensitizer, for at least about five to about twenty minutes, to substantially inactivate said pathogens.

A method for treating platelets to inactivate pathogens which may be present therein, comprising the steps of:

• (a) adding 7,8-dimethyl-10-ribityl isoalloxazine to a fluid comprising said platelets in storage solution at a ratio of about 27:73 platelets (in plasma):storage solution, whereby the 7,8-dimethyl-10-ribityl isoalloxazine concentration of said fluid is between about 1 and about 200 micromolar;
• (b) adding N-acetyl-cysteine to said fluid in an amount sufficient to increase a vital quality of said platelets, wherein the concentration of said N-acetyl-cysteine is between about 25 micromolar and about 500 micromolar;
• and
• (c) exposing said fluid to photoradiation at an energy between about 5 and about 12 J/cm2 to activate the photosensitizer, for at least about five to about twenty minutes, to substantially inactivate said pathogens.

A method of increasing the storage life of a blood component, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing said blood component in solution in a container larger than the volume of the solution;
• (b) adding nitric oxide to said solution to increase dissolved nitric oxide content of said solution in an amount sufficient to improve storage life of said blood component;
• (c) adding a photoactivator to said solution and irradiating said solution to activate said photoactivator;
• and
• (d) storing said blood component for a period greater than five days without destroying the usefulness of said blood component.