1642results about "NMR/MRI constrast preparations" patented technology

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided compositions and methods useful for the in vivo delivery of a pharmaceutically active agent, wherein the agent is associated with a polymeric biocompatible material.

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided compositions and methods useful for the in vivo delivery of substantially water insoluble pharmacologically active agents (such as the anticancer drug paclitaxel) in which the pharmacologically active agent is delivered in the form of suspended particles coated with protein (which acts as a stabilizing agent). In particular, protein and pharmacologically active agent in a biocompatible dispersing medium are subjected to high shear, in the absence of any conventional surfactants, and also in the absence of any polymeric core material for the particles. The procedure yields particles with a diameter of less than about 1 micron. The use of specific composition and preparation conditions (e.g., addition of a polar solvent to the organic phase), and careful election of the proper organic phase and phase fraction, enables the reproducible production of unusually small nanoparticles of less than 200 nm diameter, which can be sterile-filtered. The particulate system produced according to the invention can be converted into a redispersible dry powder comprising nanoparticles of water-insoluble drug coated with a protein, and free protein to which molecules of the pharmacological agent are bound. This results in a unique delivery system, in which part of the pharmacologically active agent is readily bioavailable (in the form of molecules bound to the protein), and part of the agent is present within particles without any polymeric matrix therein.

Provided are methods and compositions for detecting and treating normal, hypoplastic, ectopic or remnant tissue, organ or cells in a mammal. The method comprises parenterally injecting a mammalian subject, at a locus and by a route providing access to above-mentioned tissue or organ, with an composition comprising antibody / fragment which specifically binds to targeted organ, tissue or cell. The antibody / fragment may be administered alone, or labeled or conjugated with an imaging, therapeutic, cytoprotective or activating agent.

The present invention relates generally to methods and compositions for targeting the vasculature of solid tumors using immunological- and growth factor-based reagents. In particular aspects, antibodies carrying diagnostic or therapeutic agents are targeted to the vasculature of solid tumor masses through recognition of tumor vasculature-associated antigens, such as, for example, through endoglin binding, or through the specific induction of endothelial cell surface antigens on vascular endothelial cells in solid tumors.

Therapeutic delivery systems comprising gaseous precursor-filled microspheres comprising a therapeutic are described. Methods for employing such microspheres in therapeutic delivery applications are also provided. Therapeutic delivery systems comprising gaseous precursor-filled liposomes having encapsulated therein a contrast agent or drug are preferred. Methods of and apparatus for preparing such liposomes and methods for employing such liposomes in therapeutic delivery applications are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to methods for treating tissue in the thoracic cavity of a subject by the application of a cryogen, or using the cryogen to create an isotherm in proximity to the tissue to be treated. A wide variety of conditions may be treated using the methods of the invention including asthma, neoplastic disease and a variety of conditions characterized by inflammation in lung and chest tissue.

This invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing delivery of drugs and other agents across epithelial tissues, including the skin, gastrointestinal tract, pulmonary epithelium, and the like. The compositions and methods are also useful for delivery across endothelial tissues, including the blood brain barrier. The compositions and methods employ a delivery enhancing transporter that has sufficient guanidino or amidino sidechain moieties to enhance delivery of a compound conjugated to the reagent across one or more layers of the tissue, compared to the non-conjugated compound. The delivery-enhancing polymers include, for example, poly-arginine molecules that are preferably between about 6 and 25 residues in length.

The present invention provides a fluorescent silica-based nanoparticle that allows for precise detection, characterization, monitoring and treatment of a disease such as cancer The nanoparticle has a fluorescent compound positioned within the nanoparticle, and has greater brightness and fluorescent quantum yield than the free fluorescent compound To facilitate efficient urinary excretion of the nanoparticle, it may be coated with an organic polymer, such as polyethylene glycol) (PEG) The small size of the nanoparticle, the silica base and the organic polymer coating minimizes the toxicity of the nanoparticle when administered in vivo The nanoparticle may further be conjugated to a ligand capable of binding to a cellular component associated with the specific cell type, such as a tumor marker A therapeutic agent may be attached to the nanoparticle Radionuclides / radiometals or paramagnetic ions may be conjugated to the nanoparticle to permit the nanoparticle to be detectable by various imaging techniques.

The use of silicon as an imaging agent is described.

This invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing delivery of drugs and other agents across epithelial tissues, including the skin, gastrointestinal tract, pulmonary epithelium, ocular tissues and the like. The compositions and methods are also useful for delivery across endothelial tissues, including the blood brain barrier. The compositions and methods employ a delivery enhancing transporter that has sufficient guanidino or amidino sidechain moieties to enhance delivery of a compound conjugated to the reagent across one or more layers of the tissue, compared to the non-conjugated compound. The delivery-enhancing polymers include, for example, poly-arginine molecules that are preferably between about 6 and 25 residues in length.

The invention relates to MR contrast media containing composite nanoparticles, preferably comprising a superparamagnetic iron oxide core provided with a coating comprising an oxidatively cleaved starch coating optionally together with a functionalized polyalkyleneoxide which serves to prolong blood residence.

Pain factors are labeled with targeted agents or markers delivered into the body. The labeled pain factors are imaged with appropriate imaging tools in a manner allowing selective identification and localization of areas of pain source or transmission. The labeled pain factors allow spatial differentiation in the imaging sufficient to specify the location of the pain so as to drive therapeutic decisions and techniques in order to treat the pain. Pain factors labeled and imaged in this manner may include one or more of nerve factors, blood vessel factors, cellular factors, and inflammation factors. Labeled markers may include for example radioactive materials (e.g. tritiated or iodinated molecules) or other materials such as metal (e.g. gold) nanoparticles. Intermediary binding materials may be used, such as for example bi-specific antibodies. Therapeutic components of the system and method include for example localized energy delivery or ablation treatments, or local drug or other chemical delivery. Locations containing pain factor selectively bound by targeted agents are selectively treated with directed energy into a region containing the targeted agent bound to the pain factor.

Compositions and methods for manufacturing polymers are disclosed. Compositions include novel plastics, including films and shaped forms comprising polymer matrices that are biologically compatible and biodegradable. Such plastics may comprise polymers derived from natural sources. Further, such plastics are useful in biological systems for wound repair, implants, stents, drug encapsulation and delivery, and other applications. The disclosed methods comprise mild manufacturing processes such that various additives, such as biologically active proteins, sugars, lipids, and the like may be incorporated into the polymer matrix without subsequent loss of bioactivity during processing. Additionally, methods of manufacture for controlling mechanical properties, such as elasticity, pliancy, and the porosity of such plastics are disclosed.

The present invention provides a kit and a method for targeting of a diagnostic or therapeutic agent to a target site in a mammal having a pathological condition. The kit comprises, in separate containers, (a) a first conjugate comprising a targeting moiety and a Morpholino oligomer, wherein the targeting moiety selectively binds to a primary, target-specific binding site of the target site or to a substance produced by or associated with the target site; (b) optionally, a clearing agent; and (c) a second conjugate comprising a complementary Morpholino oligomer and a diagnostic agent or therapeutic agent. The method comprises administering (a), optionally (b), and (c) to a mammal.

Described herein are compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating pathogenic cell populations in a patient. The compounds described herein include conjugates of a plurality of cytotoxic drugs and vitamin receptor binding ligands. The plurality of drugs may be the same or different. Similarly, the vitamin receptor binding ligands may be the same or different. The conjugates also include a linker that is formed from one or more spacer linkers, heteroatom linkers, and releasable linkers.

The present invention provides a method of magnetic resonance investigation of a sample, preferably of a human or non-human animal body, said method comprising the step of ex vivo polarisation of a high T1 agent and wherein the polarising agent is optionally seperated from the high T1 agent before the high T1 agent is administered to the sample.

Disclosed are nanocrystals comprising metals and metal alloys, which are formed by a process that results in a layer of graphite in direct contact with the metallic core. The nanocrystals may be used in vivo as MRI contrast agents, X-ray contrast agents, near IR (NIR) heating agents, drug delivery, protein separation, catalysis etc. The nanocrystals may be further functionalized with a hydrophilic coating, e.g., phospholipid-polyethylene glycol, which improves in vivo stability. The process comprises chemical vapor deposition of metals adsorbed onto silica as a fine powder, in conjunction with a carbon containing gas, which coats the metal particles. The silica is then etched away. Preferred metals include iron, gold, cobalt, platinum, ruthenium and mixtures thereof, e.g., FeCo and AuFe. The process permits control of the alloy compositions, size, and other characteristics.

In one embodiment the present invention discloses a nanocluster or a nanorose composition comprising two or more closely spaced nanoparticles each comprising one or more metals, metal oxides, inorganic substances, or a combination thereof and one or more stabilizers. The stabilizers are in contact with the two or more closely spaced nanoparticles to form a nanocluster composition in which the inorganic weight percentage is greater than 50% and the average size is below 300 nm, and the nanocluster composition has magnetic properties, optical properties or a combination of both.

The present invention provides functionalized magnetic nanoparticles comprising a functional group, which functionalized magnetic nanoparticles exhibit differential binding to a tissue, indulging brain tissue, bone, and vascular tissues. The present invention further provides compositions, including pharmaceutical compostions, comprising a subject functionalized magnetic nanoparticle. The present invention further provides diagnostic and research methods including use of subject functionized magnetic nanoparticles. The present invention further provides a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-visible drug delivery system; drugs using MRI, as well as tissue-specific drug delivery.

The present invention relates to a nanoparticle comprising self-assembled crosslinked, amphiphilic block copolymers and at least one immobilized dye, wherein the self-assembled, crosslinked, amphiphilic block copolymers comprise a hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block, wherein the self-assembled, crosslinked, amphiphilic block copolymers are self-assembled to form a core of the nanoparticle comprising a hydrophobic block, wherein the hydrophobic block is derived from at least one pendant multifunctional crosslinked alkoxy silane or amino silane moiety, and an exterior of the nanoparticle comprising a hydrophilic block, and wherein the immobilized dye is immobilized in the core.

The present invention provides stem cells loaded with bi-functional magnetic nanoparticles (nanoparticle-loaded stem cells (NLSC)) that both: a) heat in an alternating magnetic field (AMF); and b) provide MRI contrast enhancement for MR-guided hyperthermia. The nanoparticles in the NLSC are non-toxic, and do not alter stem cell proliferation and differentiation, the nanoparticles do however, become heated in an alternating magnetic field, enabling therapeutic applications for cancer treatment. NLSC can deliver hyperthermia to hypoxic areas in tumors for sensitization of those areas to subsequent treatment, thus delivering therapy to the most treatment-resistant tumor regions. The heating of diseased tissue either results in direct cell killing or makes the tumor more susceptible to radio- and / or chemotherapy. The NLSC of the present invention can be used for MR image-guided hyperthermia in oncology, in stem cell research for cell tracking and heating, and for elimination of mis-injected stem cells.

A drug delivery balloon (10) has a drug thereon in the form of crystalline particles (12), the drug having a predetermined size distribution. Optionally marker particles (14, 16) are also provided. A texturized coating (18), a cap layer (20) and / or other methods may be used to increase particle loading capacity of the balloon.

Polymerized liposome particles which are linked to a targeting agent and may also be linked to a contrast enhancement agent and / or linked to or encapsulating a treatment agent. The targeting imaging enhancement polymerized liposome particles interact with biological targets holding the image enhancement agent to specific sites providing in vitro and in vivo study by magnetic resonance, radioactive, x-ray or optical imaging of the expression of molecules in cells and tissues during disease and pathology. Targeting polymerized liposomes may be linked to or encapsulate a treatment agent, such as, proteins, drugs or hormones for directed delivery to specific biological sites for treatment.

The invention relates to MR contrast media containing composite nanoparticles, preferably comprising a superparamagnetic iron oxide core provided with a coating comprising an oxidatively cleaved starch coating optionally together with a functionalized polyalkyleneoxide which serves to prolong blood residence.

A method for monitoring and controlling convection enhanced delivery of a therapeutic agent to a target tissue is disclosed. A tracer that is detectable, for example, by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and / or by X-ray computed tomography (CT) is co-infulsed with the therapeutic agent and used to monitor the distribution of the therapeutic agent as it moves through the target tissue. The images obtained during delivery are used to confirm delivery of the therapeutic agent to the target tissue and to avoid exposure of tissue outside of the targeted area to the therapeutic agent. In addition, the signal intensity of the images may be used to confirm that the therapeutic agent has been delivered to the target tissue at a desired concentration.

We describe a method for opening the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using ultrasound and preformed microbubbles. With this method, diagnostic or therapeutic agents may be administered to the brain. This method can open a focal region of the BBB and administer agents in a targeted fashion or the method can open large regions (or the entirety) of the brain for more global administration of agents. In one embodiment, the method can be used to administer contrast agents (e.g., agents that increase or decrease the magnetic resonance imaging signal) to the brain and thereby improve the quality or information content of imaging data. In another embodiment, a standard clinical diagnostic ultrasound scanner can be used to open specific regions of the BBB and administer diagnostic or therapeutic agents. Importantly, this invention can open the BBB in a non-destructive / non-invasive fashion, allowing the subject to be awake and suffer no detectable side effects.

The present invention provides methods for passive visualisation of invasive devices by employing a hyperpolarised solution of a high T1 agent having a T1 value of at least 5 seconds at a field strength in the range of 0.001-5 T and a temperature in the range of 20-40° C. Devices and instruments particularly useful for being employed in the methods are also provided as well as use of the methods in imaging, surgery and therapy.