THE CFAST
​
The Cystic Fibrosis Absorbent
Sponge Technology
​
"C the Mucus Fast "
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease afflicting 30,000 people in the United States alone. Patients with Cystic Fibrosis produce excess mucus that covers vital organs, making it hard to breathe and process important nutrients.
The CFAST is a medical patch containing nanosponges. The nanosponges will enter the body through nanoneedles on the adhesive skin side of the patch. The nanosponges will travel to the vital organs and absorb the correct amount of mucus. This will leave a healthy balance lining the patient's organs.
A software application on the patient’s phone monitors and records the functioning of the nanosponges. This will keep the patient informed, safe, and healthy.
Technology in image
is not to scale,
The CFAST is produced
at the nano-scale
PROTOTYPE
THE PATCH
The CFAST is a medical patch applied to the patient's skin. The CFAST contains nanosponges which enter the body through nanoneedles on the adhesive skin side of the patch. The patch is customizable to make the treatment more appealing to young patients.
THE NANOSPONGE
The CFAST nanosponges are spherical particles that soak up excess mucus in the lungs and other vital organs affected by Cystic Fibrosis. Clusters of nanosponges are coated with a red blood cell membrane from the host (patient). The RBC membrane controls the movement of substances in and out of the nanosponge. Once saturated, the nanosponges are carried to our liver, which is the way our body filters toxins. From there, they exit the body.
THE CFAST "APP"
The CFAST coordinates with a "medical monitor." The software application syncs with the patch and the nanosponges.
It is connected with the patient, guardian/parents, and patient's physician. It lets the physician and patient know if they have a healthy or unhealthy amount of mucus in their organs. It also alerts them if the software is malfunctioning.
Nanosponges circulating within body organs
The CFAST Patch with Nanoneedles
The CFAST Patch
Nanosponges are
tiny particles designed to absorb toxins from the bloodstream.
Nanosponges are
currently used for
targeted drug delivery, making antibiotics unnecessary.
Nanosponges mimic
a red blood cell membrane. One RBC membrane can cover many nanosponges.
Nanosponges are made of water and a polymer core.
When toxins attack the nanosponges, as they would any RBC, they will be absorbed.
Nanosponges: Medical Miracles
ABOUT THE CFAST
How does The CFAST work?
Pulmonologist
What are the benefits of
The CFAST?
The CFAST Software Engineer
Why isn't The CFAST
possible today?
Research and Development
The CFAST is a medical patch that contains nanosponges. These are engineered to absorb excess mucus in the vital organs from patients with Cystic Fibrosis. The nanosponges are released from a patch on the patient's skin into the bloodstream. As they become saturated, they are replenished by nanoreplicators inside the patch. A software APP monitors the function of The CFAST.
The CFAST works instantly and continuously, faster than Present day CF treatments. The patch contains painless nanoneedles and only has to be administered once.
Finally, the patch can be custom designed by the patient to make it more appealing.
Patients need fewer doctor visits and hospitalizations.
The CFAST treats the disease, not just the symptoms.
There are many breakthroughs in our technology that prevent it from being possible today. First, nanotechnology must advance; nanoneedles will need to be produced at a large scale,and, to this day, nanoreplicators do not exist. Also, because different types of mucus line the organs, scientists need to be able to find a red blood cell membrane that can absorb all kinds of mucus, and leave just the right healthy balance.
Works Cited
Anvita Bharati, Student at SNDT University Follow. “Drug Targeting.” LinkedIn SlideShare, 20 Dec. 2014, www.slideshare.net/anvitaj1/drug-targeting-42888705.
​
A Painless Needle, www.wipo.int/ipadvantage/en/details.jsp?id=2597.
​
“Biomimicry.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, www.dictionary.com/browse/biomimicry.
​
Chandler, Nathan. “How FitBit Works.” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 2 May 2012, +electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/fitness/fitbit1.htm.
​
Chan, Melody G. “Nanomedicine Timeline.” Nanomedicine, melodygchan.wixsite.com/nanomedicine/timeline
​
Coxworth, Ben. “Nanosponges Used to Soak up Toxins in the Bloodstream.” New Atlas - New Technology & Science News, New Atlas, 15 Apr. 2013, newatlas.com/toxin-bloodstream-nanosponges/27078/.
​
“Cystic Fibrosis Research Milestones.” Cystic Fibrosis Research Milestones | CF Foundation, www.cff.org/Research/About-Our-Research/Research-Milestones/.
​
“Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.” CF Foundation, www.cff.org/What-is-CF/About-Cystic-Fibrosis/.
​
“Cystic Fibrosis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 13 Oct. 2016, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cystic-fibrosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353700.
“Cystic Fibrosis Research Milestones.” Cystic Fibrosis Research Milestones | CF Foundation, www.cff.org/Research/About-Our-Research/Research-Milestones/.
​
“Cystic Fibrosis Words and DNA Strands.” Genetic Disorders, Oct. 2015, philippat2014.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/dt_150702_cystic_fibrosis_words_dna_strands_800x600.jpg.
​
“DEEPSTUFF.ORG.” DEEPSTUFF.ORG, University of California San Diego, 18 May 2015, i0.wp.com/www.deepstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/91896_web2.jpg?resize=670%2C300.
​
“Fitbit Design - An Inside Look.” Bridge, 27 Aug. 2015, designerfund.com/bridge/fitbit-design-an-inside-look/.
​
“Gel Filled with Nanosponges Cleans up MRSA Infections.” Phys.org - News and Articles on Science and Technology, phys.org/news/2015-05-gel-nanosponges-mrsa-infections.html.
​
Gelband, Leo. “Cystic Fibrosis.” Prezi.com, 29 Nov. 2017, prezi.com/vsb3moefnmmj/cystic-fibrosis/.
​
“High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (the Vest).” High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (the Vest) | CF Foundation, www.cff.org/Life-With-CF/Treatments-and-Therapies/Airway-Clearance/High-Frequency-Chest-Wall-Oscillation/.
​
“Intramuscular Injection Guidelines.” Becton, Dickinson & Company, 12 Mar. 2012.
​
“'Nanosponges' Sop Up Bloodstream Toxins.” Inside Science, 25 July 2016, www.insidescience.org/news/nanosponges-sop-bloodstream-toxins.
​
“National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute.” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/.
​
“Lung Diseases Overview.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/lung/lung-diseases-overview#1.
​
​
Pankaj Kishori Kusum Ramdas Khuspe, Assistant Professor at Ideal College of Pharmacy & Research Follow. “Nanosponge.” LinkedIn SlideShare, 15 May 2015, www.slideshare.net/prkppt/nanosponge-48180430.
​
“Personalized Medicine.” CF Foundation, www.cff.org/What-is-CF/Genetics/Personalized-Medicine/.
​
purpologydotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/984334-nano-eye.jpg.
​
Sutori, www.sutori.com/story/cystic-fibrosis-the-history-of-a-real-autosomal-recessive-disorder.
​
“UC San Diego News Center.” Gel Filled with Nanosponges Cleans up MRSA Infections, ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/gel_filled_with_nanosponges_cleans_up_mrsa_infections.
​
“Weighing the Benefits and Risks of a Lung Transplant.” Of a Lung Transplant | CF Foundation, www.cff.org/Life-With-CF/Treatments-and-Therapies/Lung-Transplantation/What-to-Consider-Regarding-a-Lung-Transplant/Weighing-the-Benefits-and-Risks/.
​
​
​
Website/Video Sources
​
“An Amplified Image of Suzhou Natong Bionanotechnology's Functional MicroArray Needles. NATONG.”Https://Www.wsj.com/Articles/SB10001424052748703989304575503650437706596.
“Cystic Fibrosis Lungs.” Cystic Fibrosis Lung Pictures, lungpictures.org/Cystic-Fibrosis-Lungs-Pictures.php.
Double Helix #1422378. clipart-library.com/clipart/8T65qzqpc.htm.
​
Is U.S. Preeminence in High-Tech Mied. www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/upload/kids/us-has-lower-outcomes-for-patients-with-cystic-fibrosis.jpg.
Jay Smith/Discover, Source: Vertex Pharmaceuticals.”Http://Discovermagazine.com/2013/September/14-Doorway-to-a-Cure..
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, fightcf.cff.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cff_homepage.
​
“Laboratory Flooring and Free Floating Floors by FreeStyle.” FreeStyle, freestyleflooring.com/uses/laboratories-clean-rooms/.
​
“Nanosponges Soak up Toxins.” Pic.twitter.com/JwFTQBKoAq.
​
Nykiel, Teddy. “Doctors Who Do It All: How to Start Your Own Medical Practice.” NerdWallet, 26 Oct. 2017, www.nerdwallet.com/blog/small-business/how-to-start-a-medical-practice/.
​
"Photo Gallery.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov/gallery/photo_8_1.html.
​
“Pulmozyme(Dornase Alfa).” Https://Cysticfibrosisnewstoday.com/Pulmozyme-Dornase-Alfa/.
​
Sergeant, Harriet. “Would You Eat through a Tube up Your Nose If It Meant You Lost Weight?”Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 11 July 2016, www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3685631/Would-eat-tube-nose-meant-lost-weight.html.
​
“The Vest® Airway Clearance System - Home Care Model 105.” The Vest® Airway Clearance System - Home Care Model 105 l Hill-Rom®, www.hill-rom.com/usa/Products/Category/Respiratory-Care/The-Vest-105-Home-Care/.
​
​