Graduate NIH Training in Biotechnology
Trainees
Azadeh Hajy Alikhani
Project Description
Design of Extracorporeal Specific Antibody Filters
The goal of this project is to study and develop specific antibody filters (SAFs) for extracorporeal capture of anti-A blood group antibodies. This will prevent hyperacute organ rejection during ABO-incompatible organ transplantation. The SAFs will consist of hollow fiber membranes with A-antigens attached to the fiber lumenal surfaces. The targeted antibodies bind to the antigens during perfusion of whole blood in the SAF. We have the following specific aims in this project:
- Synthesis of trisaccharides and related tetrasaccharide A-antigens and immobilization of these antigens on the test membranes.
- Assessment of the antigen- antibody binding characteristics and functional capacity as related to Ag type and composition.
- Fabrication of the mini SAF modules with the most promising synthetic antigen conjugates and evaluation of mass transfer characteristics of antibody capture in SAF modules using a bench- top perfusion loop.
- Design and fabrication of SAF modules capable of reducing normal anti -A levels from whole blood volumes down to the accepted clinical target for ABO- incompatible transplantations.
Courses
Fundamentals of Thermodynamics
Fundamentals of Reaction Processes
Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering
Issues in Research and Teaching
Fundamentals of Transport Processes
Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (Biotechnology Training Program)
Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering (Biotechnology Training Program)
Biochemistry for Engineers (Biotechnology Training Program)
Biomaterials and Biocompatibility (Biotechnology Training Program)
Scientific Ethics (Biotechnology Training Program)
Foundations of Biomedical Sciences (Biotechnology Training Program)
Foundations Conference (Biotechnology Training Program)
Publications
1. Solovan JC, Oh HI, Alikhani A, Gautam S, Vlasova K, Korchagina EY, Bovin NV, Federspiel WJ. Synthetic blood group antigens for anti-A removal device and their interaction with monoclonal anti-A IgM. Transplant Immunology. 16 (2006) 245-249
2. Alikhani A, Bovin NV, Federspiel WJ. Binding kinetics of monoclonal anti-A antibodies to synthesized Atrisaccharide blood group antigens. Submitted to Journal of Molecular Recognition.
Conference Presentations
1. Solovan JC, Alikhani A, Oh HI, Vlasova K, Korchagina EY, Bovin NV, et al. Study of Anti-A Antibodies and Synthetic A Antigen Interactions to Develop Specific Antibody Filters. Poster Session: Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting; 2005; Baltimore, Maryland.
2. Gautam S, Alikhani A, Ciak E, Federspiel WJ. Antibody Removal by Immobilized Synthetic Antigen in Specific Antibody Filters. talk: American Society for Artificial Internal Organs Annual meeting; 2006; Chicago, Illinois.
3. Alikhani A, Bovin NV, Federspiel WJ. Utilizing Surface Plasmon Resonance To Characterize Antibody Removal Of Specific Antibody Filters. Poster Session: Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting; 2006; Chicago, Illinois
4. Ciak E, Gautam S, Alikhani A, Federspiel WJ. Specific Antibody Filter (SAF) for Removal of Anti-A Antibodies to Prevent Hyperacute Organ Rejection in ABO-Incompatible Transplantation. Poster Session: Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting; 2006; Chicago, Illinois
Conference Attendance
American Society for Artificial Internal Organs, 51st Annual Conference 2005, Washington, DC
American Society for Artificial Internal Organs, 52st Annual Conference 2006, Chicago, IL
Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting 2006, Chicago, IL
Seminar Attendance
Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Graduate Seminars
Department of Bioengineering Graduate Seminars
McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Work in Progress Seminar Series
Advisor
Dr. William J. Federspiel
W.K. Whiteford Professor
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
University of Pittsburgh
