Chemotherapy is a fundamental tool in the fight against cancer; however, its application often comes with undesirable side effects. One of the main challenges is the persistence of toxic metals, such as platinum (Pt2+), in the body after treatment. These heavy metals can cause organ damage and lead to severe side effects such as nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. To address this issue, Byotic has developed a promising prototype specifically designed for the selective retention of metals, with a particular focus on platinum. This initiative aims to reduce toxic levels of platinum after chemotherapy, improving the quality of life for post-oncological patients and potentially enhancing the efficacy of treatment in severe cancer cases.

The main objective of this project is to investigate and evaluate the efficacy of this prototype in metal retention through therapeutic apheresis. The prototype features a selective adsorbent column for platinum (Pt2+) made from a new biomaterial.

Apheresis is an extracorporeal filtration method used to remove unwanted substances from the blood. It is a medical procedure that allows for the separation of a specific component from a blood sample. This process can be used for various medical purposes, such as blood donations, disease treatment, and research.