Lung volume reduction therapy using crosslinked biopolymers
View Patent ↗One aspect of the present invention relates to bronchoscopic lung volume reduction using solutions of biopolymers that can be polymerized in situ with a crosslinker and a polymeric additive which accelerates the cross-linking reaction. In certain embodiments, the biopolymer solutions can be in the form of a foam or gel. The biopolymer compositions disclosed herein may also be used for indications other than lung volume reduction, such as sealing fistulas or performing emergency tamponade of vessels.
1. A method for reducing lung volume in a patient, comprising the steps of
a) inserting a bronchoscope through the trachea of a patient in need thereof to reach a lung segment to be treated; wherein said bronchoscope comprises a working channel;
b) inserting a catheter through said working channel; and
c) administering through the catheter to the lung segment a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a biopolymer, a cross-linker, and a polymeric additive;
wherein
said polymeric additive accelerates a cross-linking reaction between the biopolymer and the cross-linker;
the composition is administered in an amount sufficient to reduce lung volume, but without systemic toxicity; and
i) the biopolymer is bovine serum albumin in about 25% by weight of the composition; the cross-linker is glutaraldehyde in about 0.25% by weight of the composition; and the polymeric additive is poly(vinylpyrrolidone) in about 10% by weight of the composition; or
ii) the biopolymer is human serum albumin in about 22.5% by weight of the composition; the cross-linker is glutaraldehyde in about 0.3% by weight of the composition; and the polymeric additive is poly(vinylpyrrolidone) in about 4.5% by weight of the composition.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a foam or a gel.