Process for in vivo treatment of specific biological targets in bodily fluids

1. A process for treating a stem cell comprising the steps of:

introducing a fluid that includes at least one stem cell to an inlet of an assembly, the assembly comprising a flow chamber with a cross-sectional dimension less than 150 microns for conveying the fluid through the assembly, the flow chamber having a capture zone comprising a stem cell-specific binding agent;

permitting the fluid to pass through the flow chamber wherein the stem cell undergoes flux rolling along the stem cell-specific binding agent.

2. A process for treating a stem cell in the blood of an organism comprising the steps of:

placing an assembly in fluid communication with a vein or artery of an organism, the assembly comprising a flow chamber with a cross-sectional dimension less than 150 microns for conveying a first portion of blood through the assembly, the flow chamber having a capture zone comprising a stem cell-specific binding agent;

permitting blood to pass through the flow chamber, wherein during flow of the blood through the flow chamber, the stem cell undergoes flux rolling along the stem cell-specific binding agent.

3. The process as recited in claim 2 , wherein the stem cell-specific binding agent is a peptide or protein.

4. The process as recited in claim 2 , wherein the stem cell-specific binding agent comprises E-selectin, P-selectin, ICAM-1, cadherin-11 or a combination thereof.

5. The process as recited in claim 2 , wherein the assembly further comprises a bypass chamber for conveying a second portion of blood through the assembly without passing the second portion through the flow chamber.

6. The process as recited in claim 2 , wherein the assembly comprises a stent, catheter, cannula, capsule, patch, wire, infusion sleeve, fiber, shunt or graft.

7. The process as recited in claim 2 , wherein the assembly is formed from a natural or synthetic polymer, fiber, diatomaceous earth, glass, metal, colloid or plastic.

8. The process as recited in claim 2 , wherein the stem cell-specific binding agent is immobilized to a surface of the capture zone.

9. The process as recited in claim 2 , wherein the stem cell-specific binding agent is adsorbed or covalently bonded to a surface of the capture zone.

10. The process as recited in claim 2 , wherein after flux rolling of the stem cell along the stem cell-specific binding agent, the stem cell is removed from the capture zone and collected.

11. The process as recited in claim 2 , wherein the flow chamber includes an access port.

12. A process for treating a cancer cell in the blood of an organism comprising the steps of:

implanting an assembly in an organism such that the assembly is in fluid communication with a vein or artery of the organism, the assembly comprising a flow chamber with a cross-sectional dimension less than 150 microns for conveying a first portion of blood through the assembly, the flow chamber having a capture zone comprising a cancer cell-specific binding agent;

permitting blood to pass through the flow chamber, wherein during flow of the blood through the flow chamber, the cancer cell undergoes flux rolling along the cancer cell-specific binding agent.

13. The process as recited in claim 12 , wherein the assembly further comprises a bypass chamber for conveying a second portion of blood through the assembly without passing the second portion through the flow chamber.

14. The process as recited in claim 12 , wherein the capture zone further comprises an anti-proliferative agent that is adsorbed or covalently bonded to a surface of the capture zone.

15. The process as recited in claim 12 , wherein the cancer cell-specific binding agent comprises E-selectin, P-selectin, ICAM-1, cadherin-11 or a combination thereof.

16. The process as recited in claim 12 , further comprising a second assembly which is substantially identical to the first assembly, the first and second assemblies being in fluid communication such that the blood passes through each assembly in series.