Multi-Modal Nanoparticle Contrast Agent for Medical Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging techniques require different contrast agents for various imaging methods, leading to prolonged administration times and stress for subjects when multiple imaging types are needed.
Innovation Solution
A multi-modal contrast agent comprising a magnetic nanoparticle core with coupled fluorophores, chelating compounds, and iodine chelators, allowing detection across multiple imaging techniques such as MRI, MPI, CT, FL, PA, PET, SPECT, and X-ray imaging after a single administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If different contrast agents are used for different imaging methods, then each imaging technique can achieve optimal contrast, but the administration time and subject stress increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by designing a single contrast agent nanoparticle that can be detected across multiple imaging modalities (MRI, CT, PET, SPECT, fluorescence, photoacoustic, ultrasound). The nanoparticle incorporates multiple functional components: magnetic cores for MRI/MPI, iodine chelators for CT, radiotracer chelators for PET/SPECT, and fluorophores for fluorescence/photoacoustic imaging. This allows one administration to serve multiple imaging purposes, eliminating the need for separate administrations for each modality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple contrast agents are administered for different imaging types, then comprehensive imaging coverage is achieved, but subject stress and procedural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple contrast agent functions into a single nanoparticle platform. The magnetic nanoparticle core serves as a common platform upon which are attached various functional moieties: iodine-containing compounds for CT imaging, chelators for radiotracers (PET/SPECT), and fluorophores for optical imaging. This consolidation reduces procedural complexity by eliminating multiple administration procedures while maintaining comprehensive imaging coverage across different modalities.
3Loss of time
If a single multi-modal contrast agent is used, then administration time is reduced, but the complexity of the contrast agent composition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the contrast agent into distinct functional modules that can be independently designed and optimized: magnetic cores for magnetic resonance imaging, iodine chelators for CT imaging, radiotracer chelators for nuclear medicine imaging, and fluorophores for optical imaging. Each module serves a specific imaging modality and can be independently characterized and optimized. This modular approach manages the overall complexity by breaking down the multi-functional nanoparticle into manageable functional components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simultaneous or sequential imaging across multiple modalities without the need for repeated administrations, reducing subject stress and imaging time while providing effective contrast for diverse imaging methods.
Implementation Method 1
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used to form anatomical images of a subject and/or images of physiological processes in the subject. In MRI, a strong magnetic field is created around an area to be imaged within an MRI scanner.
Implementation Method 2
MPI systems use changing magnetic fields to generate a signal from superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.
Implementation Method 3
Fluorescence (FL) imaging is a technique that photographs fluorescent dies and fluorescent proteins, the contrast agents, for visualizing molecular mechanisms and structures. When a certain molecule absorbs light, the energy of the molecule is briefly raised to a higher excited state. The subsequent return to ground state results in an emission of fluorescent light that can be detected and measured.
Implementation Method 4
Computed tomography (CT), also referred to as computerized axial tomography (CAT), is an imaging technique that uses computer-processed combinations of many X-ray measurements taken from different angles to produce cross-sectional images of specific areas of a scanned object.
Implementation Method 5
PET is a technique that uses radioactive substances to image and measure metabolic processes in the body. The contrast agent used in PET includes radioactive materials that are trapped within tissues of interest. The unstable nucleus of radioligands emits positrons, which combine with neighboring electrons to generate gamma rays.
Implementation Method 6
SPECT is another nuclear medicine tomographic imaging technique that utilizes gamma rays. In SPECT, a radioisotope is attached to a ligand to create a radioligand contrast agent that targets and binds to specific tissues.
Implementation Method 7
Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is a technique based on the photoacoustic effect. In PA imaging, after administering a contrast agent, such as a dye, nanostructures comprising gold or carbon, and liposome encapsulations, non-ionizing laser pulses are delivered into tissue where some of the delivered energy is absorbed by the tissue and the contrast agent and converted into heat. The heat leads to transient thermoelastic expansion and wideband ultrasonic emission.
Data Source
AI summary
A nanoparticle is provided. The nanoparticle includes a magnetic core including a magnetic nanocrystal, a fluorophore coupled to the magnetic core, at least one chelating compound coupled to the magnetic core, the at least one chelating compound being a compound that chelates copper-64 (64Cu), a compound that chelates technetium-99m (99mTc), or a combination thereof, and an iodine chelator coupled to the magnetic core. Methods of making the nanoparticle and of using the nanoparticle as a multi-modal contrast agent are also provided.