Immobilization and magnetic extraction of pathogens and pathogen components

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the superparamagnetic iron-based particles are selected from and iron oxide, iron (Fe), iron-cobalt, alnico, permalloy particles, preferably wherein the superparamagnetic iron-based particles are superparamagnetic ironoxide nanoparticles (SPIONs).

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the sample is a body fluid sample, waste water, ground water, or drinking water, preferably wherein the body fluid sample is a human body fluid, more preferably wherein the human body fluid is selected from blood, serum, plasma, lymph, urine, liquor, saliva and sputum, even more preferably wherein the human body fluid is blood or serum, even more preferably wherein the human body fluid is blood, and most preferably wherein the blood is from a septic patient.

The method of any of preceding claims, wherein the concentration of pathogens and/or pathogen components in the sample of step (c) is reduced by at least 20%, preferably at least 25%, more preferably at least 30%, more preferably at least 35%, even more preferably at least 40%, even more preferably at least 45%, and even more preferably at least 50%, compared to the sample of step (a).

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the pathogens comprise bacteria, fungi and/or viruses, preferably wherein the pathogens are bacteria, preferably wherein the pathogens comprise gram-negative and/or a gram-positive bacteria, more preferably wherein the gram-negative bacteria are selected from one or more of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., and Klebsiella spp., and/or the gram-positive bacteria are selected from one or more of Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia, Streptococcus spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium difficile, and Enterobacter.

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the pathogen components comprise endotoxins and/or pathogenic cell wall components,

• preferably wherein the endotoxins are derived from gram-negative bacteria, more preferably wherein the toxins are derived from of one or more of Klebsiella spp., Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, more preferably wherein the endotoxins comprise LPS, preferably wherein the endotoxins consist of LPS, even more preferably wherein the endotoxins comprise E. coli LPS, and even more preferably wherein LPS is selected from one or more of LPS O55:B5, LPS O26:B6, and LPS O111:B4;
• and/or
• preferably wherein the pathogenic cell wall component is derived from one or more of gram-positive bacteria, fungi and viruses, preferably wherein the cell wall component is derived from gram-positive bacteria, more preferably wherein the cell wall component is LTA, teichoic acid and/or a peptidoglycan, even more preferably wherein the pathogenic cell wall component is LTA, even more preferably wherein the pathogenic cell wall component is LTA of Staphylococcus aureus and/or Streptococcus pyrogenes.

The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the superparamagnetic iron-based particles are SPIONs and wherein the SPIONs linked to a target binding peptide are capable of reducing the concentration of LPS in step (c) by at least 70%, preferably 80%, more preferably 90%, and even more preferably 95%, compared to the sample of step (a) comprising a LPS concentration of 10 EU/ml, wherein the reduction is determined after incubating the SPIONs linked to a target binding peptide at a concentration of 1 mg Fe/ml in Ringer solution followed by immobilising the SPIONs linked to a target binding peptide in a magnetic field of 0.31 Tesla for a time period of 30 seconds by using an assay based on the detection of recombinant factor C.

Superparamagnetic ironoxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), wherein the SPIONs are linked to a target binding peptide, wherein the target is a pathogen and/or a pathogen component, wherein the SPIONs are magnetically attractable and wherein the magnetic attractability is characterized by a reduction of the SPION concentration in water by 65% to 99.95% when applying a magnetic field of 0.31 Tesla for three minutes in static condition.