Specific removal of paraquat by hemoperfusion through antiparaquat conjugated agarose-polyacrolein microsphere beads

A novel specific adsorbent for removal of paraquat from blood has been developed. Immobilized antiparaquat antibodies provide the specificity and high affinity of the adsorbent. The antibodies were raised in rabbits and goats immunized with an analogue of paraquat, conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA). Specific antiparaquat antibodies were isolated from the animals' sera by affinity chromatography. The antibodies were polyvalently bound to crosslinked agarose-polyacrolein microsphere beads (APAMB). Antiparaquat conjugated beads (APB) were used as packing material in a hemoperfusion column for detoxification of paraquat and were compared to activated charcoal. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed specific and enhanced rate of removal of paraquat from plasma and blood by using APB. Minimal alteration of the formed elements and plasma constituents of the blood was observed.