I was surprised (modest understatment) on the amount of plasma protein outside of the vascular space. Fully 60% of albumin is outside of vascular space and the values for other plasma protein vary from 1% to 70%. While the rate of extravasation may depend on molecular size but this is not hard consideration. Some initial thoughts have been collected. Further material will appear in the future. At the moment the author is somewhat handicapped recovering from total knee replacement (result of a misspent youth and an oblate spheroid).

Final author copy for Biotechnology of the Plasma Proteins by Roger L. Lundblad was dispatched to the publisher last month before the author had total knee arthroplasty. Author expects to be mostly functional by Ground Hog Day; further progress will depend on observation of shadow.

Chemical Modification of Biological Polymers by Roger L. Lundblad was published by CRC Press/Taylor & Francis in November, 2011. The book consists of seven chapters. While the majority of content concerns the modification of proteins, there is a chapter on the modification of nucleic acids and another chapter on the modification of polysaccharides.

Some Thoughts on the Use of Intravenous Immune Globulins These are gathered from another chapter in the developing book on biotechnology of plasma proteins

Plasma Proteinase Inhibitors This is taken from the end of a chapter from a book on biotechnology of plasma proteins

Serpins - More that Protease Inhibitors

Some speculations on antithrombin Some thougths on the requirements for high doses of antithrombin for acquired antithrombin deficiency

Some Thoughts on Innovation.

The History of Frogstar B. Some thoughts on the lessons from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Pearls (Sometimes forgotten) for Biochemistry. A collection of material which is sometimes difficult to find.

The group in the Department of Physical Chemistry at Harvard Medical School made many discoveries during their work on blood plasma fractionation during World War II. One of the somewhat overlooked projects was that of thrombin and fibrin foam. This product has seen a bit of renaissance but the illustreous background is somewhat ignored.

History of the delivery of thrombin to the gastrointestinal tract

Some older work on the generation of thrombin from blood which could be used for autologous thrombin.

A brief consideration of the history of plasma fractionation as well as some thoughts on the future.

Some thoughts on technology and creativity with reference to The Shallows (Nicholas Carr)

Interest in biosimilars or follow-on biologics is increasing reflecting pressure from various interest groups.

I have started a new book on the biotechnology of the plasma proteins. Early work resulted in the discovery of an extraordinary book enttiled Blood Programs in World War II editted by General Douglas B. Kendrick. Perusal of this book lead me to some early work on thrombin which I had missed. Thrombin in World War II is an interesting story with a Back to the Future twist.

Development and Application of Biomarkers by Roger L. Lundblad has just been published by CRC Press/Taylor & Francis (http://www.crcpress.com). It is noted that the FDA has published a draft guidance entitled "Qualification Process for Drug Development Tools" which discusses the use of biomakeres in the drug development process.

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM230597.pdf

Back to the Future or Play it Again Sam - some ruminations on how enzymology changes and remains the same.

Cysteine sulfenic acid is of increasing interest and may be more common than expected.

The 4th Edition of the Handbook of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ed. Roger L. Lundblad and Fiona MacDonald) has been published by Taylor & Francis/CRC Press. (http://www.crcpress.com)

Personalized Medicine

Some things never change

Cysteine Residues in Factor VIII

Factor VIII Past Present and Future

Oral Protein Drug Delivery and Hemophilia A

Approaches to the Conformational Analysis of Biophamaceuticals by Roger L. Lundblad has been published (January, 2010) by CRC Press ( http://www.crcpress.com )

Therapeutics for Hemophilia A: Where we are, how we got there, and where do we go from here? A seminar in the Department of Pathology at UNC-CH on September 3, 2009

Some thoughts on the development of biomarkers

In Vitro Assays for Therapeutic Enzymes There has been considerable interest in the use of enzyme kinetic analysis in the characterization of therapeutic enzymes. Some considerations are presented for discussion.

Application of Protein Chemistry to Biotechnology is now available from CRC Press/Taylor and Francis

Factor VIII - Reducing Agents, Copper Ions, and Stability Some speculation on free sulfhydryl groups in factor VIII, copper ion and solution stability.

Reducing Affinity in Immunoaffinity Chromatography There are ways to use a polyclonal antibody for immunoaffinity chromatography with reasonable yield.

Promiscuity, Degeneracy and Scientific Discovery It is time for the physicist to come over to help the biologists and then they go back to look for bosons

Salivary Kallikrein and Cancer Detection . A brief discussion of the potential for the use of whole salivary for diagnosis and prognosis in oncology

Talent Dilution and Spatial Separation Increasing size and numbers does not increase productivity. There is a need for more collaboration and less seeking of individual fame and fortune

Musings on Factor VIII - I was recently informed of the passing of Yale Nemerson (February 12, 2009) . I met Yale some 40+ years ago after giving a talk on Factor VIII (see musings) in Atlantic City. I saw him infrequently over the passing years - most recently in NYC in 2007. I will miss Yale as he was a clever person and there are not many left.

Use of Thrombin for the Treatment of Esophageal Varices