Targeted Peptides for Myocarditis Imaging and Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic methods for myocarditis, such as endomyocardial biopsy, are invasive and often fail to detect the condition early, leading to a need for noninvasive imaging modalities that are not specific enough, as they can also indicate other disease processes.
Innovation Solution
Development of peptides, such as MyH-PhD-05, identified through in vivo phage display, which can target inflamed cardiac tissue and be conjugated with imaging agents or therapeutic agents for specific detection and treatment of myocarditis, using techniques like CMR or echocardiography.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If endomyocardial biopsy is used to diagnose myocarditis, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but invasiveness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses targeted peptides as intermediary agents that bind specifically to inflamed cardiac tissue and carry imaging agents (such as fluorine-19 for MRI or radionuclides for PET). These peptides serve as mediators between the diagnostic system and the target tissue, enabling noninvasive detection with high specificity. The peptides functionalize the imaging agents to target myocarditis specifically, resolving the contradiction by providing biopsy-level accuracy through noninvasive imaging pathways.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If noninvasive imaging modalities are used to detect myocarditis, then invasiveness is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs peptides with specific amino acid sequences that exhibit local quality - they are designed to bind specifically to molecular markers present only in inflamed cardiac tissue. This specificity is achieved through selective binding to altered extracellular matrix components or cellular markers in myocarditis. The imaging agents are locally concentrated at the disease site through peptide targeting, enabling noninvasive modalities to achieve high measurement precision by detecting only the relevant pathological changes rather than general inflammation.
3Ease of operation
If conventional imaging agents are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to lack of specificity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite imaging agents consisting of targeted peptides conjugated to imaging modalities (MRI contrast agents, PET radionuclides, or ultrasound microbubbles). These composite materials combine the targeting capability of peptides with the detection capability of established imaging agents. The peptide component provides specificity for myocarditis through selective binding, while the imaging agent component maintains the ease of operation and clinical availability of conventional imaging techniques. This composite approach allows existing imaging infrastructure to be used while achieving high measurement precision through molecular targeting.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to peptides useful for targeting inflamed or distressed tissue and uses related thereto. In certain embodiment, the peptides comprise SEQ ID NO: 1-14, or variants or derivatives thereof. In certain embodiments, peptides disclosed herein are conjugated to a label to detect, measure, or image cardiac tissue useful in the diagnosis of myocarditis. In certain embodiments, the peptides are conjugated to a particle coating for use in ultrasound imaging, MRI, or targeted therapy. In certain embodiments, peptides disclosed herein are conjugated to a drug or a particle containing a drug useful for targeted therapy.