Inventors:
Ehud Ben-Hur - New York NY
Maria M. Zuk - New York NY
Assignee:
New York Blood Center, Inc. - New York NY
International Classification:
C12N 1300
A01N 102
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods for reducing the level of infectious virus contained in red blood cell compositions. The methods comprise the steps of contacting the composition with a photosensitizer formulated in a liposome carrier, and exposing the composition to light at a sufficient wavelength, dose and duration to reduce the level of infectious virus contained in the composition. In the methods of the present invention, a quencher, either alone or formulated in a liposome carrier, also may be added to the red blood cell composition before application of light. The present invention also provides compositions containing photosensitizers formulated in specific liposome carriers, as well as quenchers formulated in liposome carriers, for use in the methods of the present invention.