Background of the Invention Endotoxins are lipopolysaccharides (LPS) found in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli (Raetz, Ann. Rev. Biochem., 1990, p. 129, Vol. 59). The LPS molecule contains three distinct chemical regions, the lipid A region, a central polysaccharide region and the 0-antigen region. The lipid A region is composed of a glucosamine disaccharide containing phosphate groups and is highly substituted with long chain fatty acids and is thought to be responsible for the toxic effects of endotoxins (Rietschel et al, Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Endotoxin Reaction, Ed. Nowotny, A., Spitzner, J. J. and Ziegler, E. J. , 1990, p. 15).

The biological effects induced by endotoxins result from activation of the immune system, especially the monocytes and macrophages, and are extremely diverse including fever, metabolic breakdown and septic shock (Martich et al, Immunobiology, 1993, p. 403, Vol. 187). The presence of endotoxins in biologically derived products and pharmaceutical products for therapeutic use is an area of major concern due to the potentially harmful effects of endotoxins.

Although maintaining sterile processes can ensure that biological products are free from endotoxins, this is not often possible especially when the biological product is expressed in a gram-negative bacterial source such as E. coli. Typical processes for inactivating endotoxins include exposure to concentrated sodium hydroxide (1 M NaOH) and/or heat treatment (250°C) for prolonged periods of time. However, such treatment processes are not applicable to the majority of biological products.

Numerous techniques have been used to remove endotoxins from biological products and include ultrafiltration (Sweadner et al, Appl. Environ.

Microbiol., 1977, p. 382, Vol. 34; Li etal, Biotechnol. Tech., 1998, p. 119, Vol. 12),

charcoal adsorption (Nagaki et al, Int. J Artif. Organs., 1991, p. 43, Vol. 14), size exclusion chromatography, ion exchange chromatography (Hou et al, J.

Parenter. Sci. Technol., 1990, p. 204, Vol. 44; Hou et al, Biotechnol. Bioeng., 1990, p. 315, Vol. 12; Neidhardt et al, J. Chromatogr., 1992, p. 255, Vol. 590) and affinity chromatography. All these techniques exhibit significant drawbacks and especially when applied to endotoxin removal from therapeutic proteins and other biological products. Charcoal adsorption and ion exchange chromatography reduce endotoxin levels from protein solutions, but they also tend to bind the biological component.

Efficient endotoxin removal has been achieved using affinity chromatography on immobilized polymixin B (Talmadge et al, J. Chromatogr., 1989, p. 175, Vol. 476; Anspach et al, J. Chromatogr. A, 1995, p. 81, Vol. 711).

However, concerns over the potential toxicity of polymixin B leachates has limited its use. Synthetic ligands based on diaminoalkane and monoaminoalkane compounds attached to solid phase matrices have been used for the removal of endotoxins from aqueous solutions but have only shown a limited capacity for binding endotoxins (Hou et al, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1991, p. 149, Vol. 1073).

J. Chromatography 248, 401-408 (1982) and 262, 193-198 (1983), and also US-A-4381239, describe histamine and other aromatic nitrogen heterocycles covalently linked to solid phase matrices.

US-A-5358933 describes synthetic peptides for detoxification of bacterial endotoxin and for the prevention and treatment of septic shock.

Summary of the Invention This invention relates to the discovery of a novel class of synthetic affinity ligand structures for the selective capture and removal of endotoxin from solutions containing biological therapeutic products. Synthetic affinity ligand- matrix conjugates of the present invention may be described by the following generic structures (Structures 1 and 2): Structure 1 X I/X2 Z- (Spacer)- N-A-N -- n X3 3

Structure 2 XX2 A-N X, \X 3 Z- (Spacer)-N-A-N L. m \ y pAN\x3 1 L i wherein A represents an optionally substituted linear, branched or cyclic saturated hydrocarbon chain, and each A in each repeating unit may be the same or different ; Xi, X2 and X3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl substituent ; n is 2 or more; m is 1 or more; and the ligand is attached to a support matrix Z through an optional spacer arm.

Conjugates of Structure 2 in particular may be new.

Description of Preferred Embodiments Polyamine ligands having Structure 1 or 2 have at least 3 basic nitrogen atoms, and these nitrogen atoms are preferably separated from each other by at least two carbon atoms. The nitrogen atoms may be in the form of primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary amine groups, and the intervening carbon atoms between pairs of nitrogen atoms may be in the form of a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon chain.

By way of example, A may have the formula- x-CHR-(CH2) y~ wherein x and y are independently 0, 1 or 2 and R is H or Cr 4 alkyl, e. g. hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl. In particular, A may be a divalent C14 alkyl radical, i. e. methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl or tert-butyl, or 1, 4-cyclohexylene, e. g. derived from trans-1, 4-diaminocyclohexane. More generally, A may have up to 6 or 10 C atoms.

m and n are each preferably 1,2, 3 or 4. X may have up to 6 or 10 C atoms.

The support matrix Z may be any compound or material, particulate or non-particulate, soluble or insoluble, porous or non-porous, which may be used for the immobilization of endotoxin affinity ligands to form an endotoxin ligand- matrix conjugate, thereby providing a convenient means of removing endotoxins from a contacting solution. Examples of particulate support matrices include natural polymers such as agarose, dextran, cellulose or starch, synthetic polymers and co-polymers such as polystyrene, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, perfluorocarbons and polymethylmethacrylate, and inorganic compounds such as silica, glass, alumina and metal oxides. Examples of soluble carriers include polymers of dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol and hydrolyse starch. The support matrix may also be in the form of membranes or sheets comprising the above polymers and other polymers such as nitrocellulose, polyethersulphone and nylon.

Covalent attachment of ligands to the support matrix Z may be achieved by use of a variety of activation agents including but not limited to cyanogen bromide, epichlorohydrin, 1, 4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, 1,2, 7,8-diepoxyoctane, tosyl chloride, tresyl chloride, divinyl sulphone and cyanuric chloride.

The spacer arm may be absent. If present, it may be introduced as part of the activation procedure, and is preferably represented by the structure - T-L- where T represents an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom or a group N-R2 wherein R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and L is an optionally substituted alkyl, alkyl ether, alkyl thioether, alkyl ester or amide linkage containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms.

Particularly preferred conjugates according to the present invention include :

Z- (Spacer)-NH (CH2) 2N [(CH2) 2NH2] 2 (A) Z- (Spacer)-NH (CH2) 2NH (CH2) 2NH2 (B) Z- (Spacer)-NH (CH2) 2NH (CH2) 2NH (CH2) 2NH2 (C) Z- (Spacer) -NH (CH2) 2NH (CH2) 3NH2 (D) Z- (Spacer)-NH (CH2) 3NH (CH2) 3NH (CH2) 3NH2 (E) Z- (Spacer)-NH (CH2) 3NH (CH2) 2NH (CH2) 3NH2 (F) Z- (Spacer)-NH (CH2) 2N [ (CH2) 3NH2] 2 (G) where Z and (Spacer) have the same meanings as described earlier.

In one embodiment of the invention, affinity conjugates of the invention may be conveniently prepared by covalent coupling of an appropriate polyamine to a pre-activated water-insoluble matrix. For example, coupling of polyamine ligand (A) to an epichlorohydrin-activated agarose matrix may be achieved according to the reaction scheme shown below (Scheme 1): Scheme 1 The intervening group between Z and the polyamine ligand forms a spacer arm.

According to a preferred aspect of this invention, a process for the capture and removal of endotoxin from a solution containing endotoxin comprises contacting an affinity conjugate as defined above with the solution, preferably at

a pH in the range 1.0 to 13.0. Examples of such solutions include fluids such as water, aqueous solutions, blood, plasma, pharmaceutical products, antibiotics, proteins, nucleic acids and other biological products. Another use of the endotoxin-binding ligand-matrix conjugates of the invention is for the extracorporeal removal of endotoxin from whole blood or plasma. The endotoxin-binding ligand-matrix conjugate may be conveniently used by packing the conjugate in a column and passing the endotoxin-contaminated solution through the column using gravity or other mechanical means. Alternatively, the conjugate may be mixed with an endotoxin-containing solution and used in a batch-wise manner.

In another embodiment of this invention, the conjugate may be attached to a porous membrane and used as a single-use disposable filtration device for the selective removal of endotoxin from solution.

In yet another embodiment of this invention, endotoxin-binding ligands of the invention may be attached to a soluble polymeric or non-polymeric carrier such as dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol or hydrolysed starch, e. g. for the in vivo capture and detoxification of endotoxin.

Conjugates of the present invention have been found to be highly efficient and selective at removing endotoxin from buffered and non-buffered solutions of antibiotics and proteins whilst demonstrating a low selectivity for the biological component.

The following Examples illustrate the invention. Examples 1 to 3 show the preparation of conjugates, and Examples 4 to 6 their use in endotoxin removal.

Example 1 Stage 1-Preparation of epichlorohydrin-activated PuraBead 6XL A slurry of preservative-free PuraBead 6XL (200 g settled weight), RO water (128 ml) and 10 M sodium hydroxide (3.2 ml) was reacted with epichlorohydrin (14.4 ml) at 40°C for 1 hour. The epoxy-activated PuraBeads 6XL was washed exhaustively with RO water (10 x 200 ml aliquots) to remove excess reactants and used immediately in stage 2.

Stage 2-Preparation of tris (2-aminoethyl) amine-PuraBeads 6XL Epoxy-activated PuraBeads 6XL (200 g settled weight) from stage 1 was added in aliquots to an aqueous solution of tris (2-aminoethyl) amine (15.97 g in 80 ml RO water) and the reaction mixture stirred for 16 hours at 40°C. The resulting aminated adsorbent was washed with RO water (10 x 200 ml aliquots) and stored in 20% (v/v) aqueous ethanol till further use.

Example 2 Stage 1-Preparation of epichlorohydrin-activated PuraBeads 6XL A slurry of preservative-free PuraBeade 6XL (200 g settled weight), RO water (128 mi) and 10 M sodium hydroxide (3.2 ml) was reacted with epichlorohydrin (14.4 ml) at 40°C for 1 hour. The epoxide-activated PuraBeads 6XL was washed exhaustively with RO water (10 x 200 ml aliquots) and used immediately in stage 2.

Stage 2-Preparation of triethylenetetraamine-PuraBeads 6XL The epoxy-activated PuraBeads 6XL (200 g settled weight) from stage 1 was added in aliquots to an aqueous solution of triethylenetetraamine (8.04 g in 60 ml RO water) and the resulting slurry stirred for 16 hours at 40°C. The aminated adsorbent was washed with copious amounts of RO water (10 x 200 ml portions) to remove excess polyamine.

Example 3 Purabead 6XL was washed with 10 bed volumes of RO water and 300g of drained gel slurried with 192ml RO water. 10M NaOH (4.8 ml) was added and the mixture warmed to 36°C whereupon 21. 6m1 epichlorohydrin was added.

The reaction temperature was increased to 40°C and maintained at this temperature for 1 hour, after which the activated Purabead was washed with 10 bed volumes of RO water and allowed to drain under gravity. N, N'-Bis (3- aminopropyl) ethylenediamine (9.586g) in 60 mi waterwas added and the mixture heated to 40°C to which 100g epoxy activated agarose was added in portions over a period of 30 minutes. The reaction slurry was stirred for16 hours at 40°C and washed with 10 bed volumes water to remove excess amine.

Example 4 Depyrogenated conjugates (1 ml) prepared according to Examples 1-3 (Conjugates A, C and G) were added to an aqueous solution of gentamicin (2 mi, 9 mg/ml) containing Escherichia coli#0113 : H10 : K negative endotoxin (1. 0 x 103 EU) and the resulting slurry was agitated for 1 hour at 25°C. The supernatant was assayed for the presence of endotoxin using the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate Turbidimetric assay (see Table 1).

Table 1 Conjugate Total EU Unbound % Endotoxin % Load Endotoxin Bound Gentamicin Recovered A 1005.8 EU 0.49 EU 99.95 100 C 1005. 8 EU 1. 09 EU 99.89 100 G 815.1 EU 0. 77 EU 99. 91 100 The results indicate extremely efficient and selective removal of endotoxin from aqueous solutions of gentamicin sulphate with 100% recovery of gentamicin.

Example 5 Depyrogenated conjugate (Conjugate A, 1 ml) was added to a buffered (150 mM phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4) solution of human serum albumin (2 ml, 27 mg/ml) containing Escherichia coR#0113 : H10 : K negative endotoxin (3.0 x 102 EU) and agitated for 1 hour at 25°C. The supernatant was assayed for unbound endotoxin using the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate Turbidimetric assay which was calibrated to detect endotoxin in the appropriate concentration of human serum albumin. The results are shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Conjugate Total EU Unbound % Endotoxin % Albumin Load Endotoxin Bound Recovered A 308.9 EU 2.23 EU 99.3 100 The results demonstrate greater than 99% removal of endotoxin in the presence of human serum albumin whilst maintaining 100% recovery of the applied protein.

Example 6 Depyrogenated conjugates (Conjugates A and C, 1 ml) prepared according to Examples 1 and 2, respectively, were packed into a glass column (10 mm i. d. x 30 mm height) and equilibrated with 20 ml endotoxin-free water. A solution of gentamicin sulphate in water (1 ml, 3 mg/ml) containing Escherichia co//#0113 : H10 : K negative endotoxin (7.5 x 102 EU) was loaded onto to column at a linear flow rate of 61 cm/hr. The column was then washed with endotoxin- free water (9 ml) to remove any unbound endotoxin and the combined flow through assayed for endotoxin content using the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate assay. The results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3 Conjugate Total EU Unbound % Endotoxin % Load Endotoxin Bound Gentamicin Recovered A 774. 8 EU 0 EU 100 100 C 926. 1 EU 4. 87 EU 99. 5 95. 2