CellTraffix has pioneered core platform technologies for the selection and manipulation of a broad range of Target Cells found in the bloodstream for modification, collection or elimination. Target Cells include circulating tumor cells, adult stem cells and immunological cells. The core platform technology involves a flow-mediated adhesion system, built on a biocompatible substrate or device. This system utilizes a class of molecules called selectins for adhering and rolling Target Cells either in vitro, or in vivo, replicating the cellular trafficking mechanisms of the human body. This approach does not bind and hold the Target Cells as do antibody based systems; but instead utilizes selectins’ unique ability to loosely adhere to specific cells and initiate cell rolling along the device wall. Once the cells adhere and begin rolling, they can either be purified and removed, or therapeutically modified using a secondary set of Signal Molecules commingled on the device surface with selectins. In the therapeutic applications, the Target Cells are released from the device after modification and return to circulation. Key aspects of the core technology include selectin-coating of a substrate, tuning of the surface to adhere specific Target Cells, Target Cell rolling dynamics, prototype device design, and Cell Modification utilizing a second Signaling Molecule. This powerful platform technology lends itself to the development of a wide range of potential products.

Chemotherapeutics and targeted monoclonal antibodies are currently utilized in metastatic cancer therapy. These therapies are often very expensive and toxic. Previous attempts to devise clinical cancer cell ‘blood filtration’ systems have proven unfeasible due to a lack of required specificity, the need for constant blood cycling, and an elevated likelihood of infection. CellTraffix technology uses a small shunt-like device which may potentially be implanted into the bloodstream in which circulating tumor cells are targeted, rolled and modified for cell death.

Current methods of adult stem cell isolation rely on a static immunological separation process that is time consuming and often results in contamination or inadequate cell yields. Magnetic or fluorescence cell-sorting can also put undue stress on stem cells resulting in unwanted activation. CellTraffix offers a superior flow-mediated adhesion system that captures stem cells using the same adhesion mechanisms utilized by the human body, and maintains these viable cells in a physiologic environment on the capture surface.