Magnetic blood filter takes on malaria

MediSieve is developing a magnetic filter device that captures and removes red blood cells infected with malaria

Treatment with MediSieve’s device involves no drugs or chemicals and could offer treatment for malaria patients whose cases are resistant to existing medicines.

Initial trials show that the 3D printed magnetic blood filter could extract up to 90% of infected cells from a person with malaria in under four hours.

Red blood cells infected with a malaria parasite have magnetic properties. This enables MediSieve’s device to capture them without affecting healthy cells.

The process is similar to dialysis in that infected cells are captured as blood passes through an external loop.  This in turn, quickly reduces symptoms, severity and mortality.

This treatment could be used when drugs become ineffective or to supplement existing drug treatments.

Regular treatments with the magnetic device could help patients manage malaria and keep symptoms at bay indefinitely.

Dr George Frodsham, founder of MediSieve, said: “Our device offers an effective, low-cost way to treat malaria. It could also hold the key for tackling other diseases at risk of drug-resistance.”

Malaria is one of the world’s most deadly diseases. Some 207 million cases are diagnosed every year, claiming 600,000 lives. Very often, the disease is untreatable, either because diagnosis is too late or the strain is resistant to currently available drugs.