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Docket #: S15-080

A Photosynthetic System for Treatment of Ischemic Tissue

Stanford researchers have designed a photosynthetic system powered by a cyanobacterium in solution that can easily be delivered to tissue that lack blood flow (tissue ischemia). This represents a major clinical problem that affects an immense patient population suffering from heart and/or peripheral vascular disease. When a patient presents with evidence of tissue ischemia, this photosynthetic solution can be delivered directly to the tissue at risk, thereby supplying the tissue with glucose and oxygen while removing carbon dioxide. Essentially, this enables light to fuel the tissue rather than blood.
This low cost, simple solution can be used to treat myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction as well as provide myocardial protection during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and preserve organs during transportation.

Figure


Figure description - Photosynthetic system

Stage of Research:

  • Conducted large animal translational model of myocardial protection utilizing this photosynthetic strategy at Stanford
  • Results showed that targeted intramyocardial delivery of a photosynthetic agent to ischemic territory enables localized oxygen production, enhanced metabolic activity, and augmented ventricular function in a rat model of acute myocardial ischemia.

    On-going Research:
    Improving delivery device for enhanced clinical translatability

  • Applications

    • Treatment of myocardial ischemia
    • Myocardial protection during cardiopulmonary bypass
    • Organ preservation for transplantation
    • Treatment of acute and chronic peripheral vascular disease

    Advantages

    • Low cost relative to stent placement and/or open surgery
    • Direct oxygen delivery to muscle at risk without necessarily addressing restoration of blood flow
    • Can supply tissue with energy even in patients that otherwise cannot be revascularized either surgically or with stent placement
    • Can extend the time that an organ could be transported prior to transplantation, thereby increasing the available patient pool and enhancing outcomes following transplantation
    • Could provide a superior treatment for peripheral vascular disease. Specifically, distal revascularization (below the knee) demonstrates modest results at best, whereas this treatment offers a completely novel and potentially superior approach.

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