Maria Gyongyossy-Issa,
- Applied Blood Development and Research
- Platelets
- Platelet Additive Solutions
- Artificial Platelets
CBS' Network Centre for Applied Development (netCAD) in Vancouver is dedicated to "blood research and design." Our purpose at netCAD is to be a transfusion science interface to CBS' operations. We bridge 'basic science' and 'development' in order to apply scientific rigor and provide evidence-based support for CBS' internal process development and process improvement efforts. We also provide related specialized services to CBS scientists, scientists across Canada, international groups, as well as commercial interests. Our work ranges from basic research that drives innovation through experimentation, to 'pilot-plant' level testing of new products and processes applicable to transfusion science in general and to CBS in particular.
To be able to achieve this, netCAD is set up as a "complete miniature blood centre" with all the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and equipment used by CBS - but with the flexibility and consequent ability to vary any part of any of the processes in a controlled, test situation.
Since its inception, netCAD has participated in the development of the "Buffy Coat" blood component production process, and a wide range of associated sub-processes as CBS re-tooled to implement Buffy Coat across Canada. Most of theses projects were platelet-focused as that is netCAD Vancouver's expertise: we have examined the quality of stored platelets in containers sterilized by different types of radiation; studied the effects of a range of commercial platelet additive solutions [1,2] and have developed and patented out own [3, a]; looked at variants of the component preparation process; and we have approached pathogen reduction technology, just to name a few.
My personal research interest is also platelet-focused. As platelets are always in short supply, and their shelf-life is but 5 days, I am attempting to build a synthetic material that can substitute for some of a platelet's functions, yet be easy to store: "just add water and stir." So far, we have developed peptidomimetics that can substitute for platelet receptors [4, b] and have deployed peptides on macromolecular carriers [5] to act as antithombotics. We have also developed a hydrogel-coated liposome [c] that can be used as a platform for the delivery of the peptidomimetic and thus behave as a synthetic platelet [d].
Selected Publications:
Zhang JG, Carter CJ, Culibrk B, Devine DV, Levin E, Scammell K, Weiss S, Gyongyossy-Issa MIC (2008) Buffy-coat platelet parameters and metabolism during storage in additive solutions or plasma. Transfusion 48:847-56.
Gyongyossy-Issa MIC, Zhang JG, Culibrk B, Hunter F, Levin E, Scammell K, Weiss S, Holmes DL, Holme S.(2009) Novel system for storage of buffy-coat derived platelet concentrates in a glucose-based platelet additive solution: parameters and metabolism during storage and comparison to plasma. Vox Sanguinis [in press]
Zhang JG, Carter CJ, Devine DV, Scammell K, Weiss S, Gyongyossy-Issa MIC (2008) Comparison of a novel viscous platelet additive solution with plasma during preparation and storage of buffy-coat derived platelet concentrates. Vox Sanguinis May;94(4):299-305.
del Carpio Munoz C, Campbell W, Constantinescu I, Gyongyossy-Issa MIC. (2008) Rational design of short inhibitor peptides to target the von Willebrand factor (vWf) - GPIb integrin interaction. Journal of Molecular Modeling 14, 1191-1202.
Zhang JG, Krajden OB, Kainthan RK, Kizhakkedathu JN, Constantinescu I, Brooks DE, Gyongyossy-Issa MIC. (2008) Conjugation to hyperbranched polyglycerols improves RGD-mediated inhibition of platelet function in vitro. Bioconjug Chem. 19, 1241-1247.