Heparin-coated microbead pathogen adsorption device

Heparin-coated microbead pathogen adsorption devices are extracorporeal blood purification tools composed of microbeads with immobilized heparin or heparan sulfate-like molecules on their surfaces. These devices (notably the Seraph 100 filter) are designed to capture and remove a broad spectrum of pathogens—including bacteria and viruses—from the bloodstream by mimicking the natural binding affinity of microbial agents to host cell surface glycosaminoglycans like heparan sulfate. When blood passes through the microbead-containing cartridge, pathogens adhere to the heparin-coated beads and are thus physically removed from circulation. This approach is being explored as an adjunctive therapy for severe infections and sepsis, with some reports of use in COVID-19 and septic shock. However, these devices are not molecular drug targets (such as receptors, enzymes, or transporters) but medical devices using affinity-based adsorption, and should not be catalogued as molecular targets. Clinical data on efficacy and safety are still emerging, and concerns include insufficient pathogen specificity, removal of non-target biomolecules, and variable clinical benefit[2][3][6].

Other names

Seraph 100 Microbind Affinity Blood FilterSeraph 200 Microbind Affinity Blood Filterheparin-immobilized microbeadsheparin-coated beadsheparan sulfate-mimicking microbeads

Adsorption of pathogens via heparin/heparan sulfate binding interactions, Mimics host cell surface glycosaminoglycans to capture bacteria, viruses, and possibly endotoxins