I-Corps: Redox and pH responsive MRI contrast agents based on iron and cobalt

磁共振成像（MRI）是临床上重要的诊断程序，大约一半的MRI扫描使用造影剂，以便更好地显示组织中的差异。该项目将涉及基于铁和钴的造影剂的开发和商业化的初步步骤，因为铁和钴是廉价且富含地球的元素。这些新的造影剂的独特之处在于，它们被设计成在具有疾病状态特征的组织中启动。这些造影剂的反应特性对改进诊断和治疗非常有用。该项目将探索这些药物用于不同疾病的潜力，包括癌症和脑损伤。三人团队（学术PI，创业领导和业务导师）将采访放射科医生，医生，保险公司代表，MRI扫描仪制造商和MRI技术人员，以确定开发和销售新造影剂的因素。在I-CORPS项目的支持下，已经组建了一个团队来研究基于铁(II)/铁（III）和钴（II）的磁共振成像造影剂的潜在商业化。造影剂是顺磁性金属离子配合物，通过化学交换饱和转移（paraCEST）产生信号。所提出的paraCEST试剂是可以调整氧化还原电位和自旋态的配位配合物。此外，paraCEST试剂通常产生对pH和温度敏感的造影剂。拟议的项目将探索商业化这些新型造影剂的可能性：1)诊断肿瘤缺氧程度以及细胞外pH值；2)定位创伤性脑损伤，这被认为涉及活性氧的产生并影响组织的氧化还原状态。该小组将通过采访医生、放射科医生、核磁共振成像公司代表和保险公司代表，研究影响造影剂商业化和新诊断程序决策的因素。潜在的成果包括：进一步关注用于新诊断程序的造影剂的开发，制定推进造影剂商业化的商业计划，以及建立新的合作和网络。这些造影剂的商业化可能会创造新的就业机会，以实现替代目前使用供应有限的稀土元素的技术的长期目标。

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a clinically important diagnostic procedure, with about half of MRI scans using contrast agents in order to better image differences in tissue. This project will involve the development and initial steps towards commercialization of contrast agents based on iron and cobalt as inexpensive and earth abundant elements. These new contrast agents are unique in that they are designed to switch on in tissue which has characteristics of a disease state. The responsive properties of these contrast agents could be extremely useful for improved diagnostics and treatment. This project will explore the potential of these agents for use in different diseases including cancer and brain injury. The team of three (academic PI, entrepreneurial lead and business mentor) will interview radiologists, medical doctors, insurance company representatives, MRI scanner manufacturers and MRI technicians to determine the factors that go into the development and marketing of new contrast agents. With support from the I-CORPS program, a team has been assembled to investigate the potential commercialization of magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents based on iron(II)/iron(III) and cobalt(II). The contrast agents are paramagnetic metal ion complexes that produce signal through chemical exchange saturation transfer (paraCEST). The proposed paraCEST agents are coordination complexes that can be tuned for redox potential and spin state. Furthermore, paraCEST agents generally produce contrast which is pH and temperature responsive. The proposed project will explore the possibility of commercializing these new contrast agents for 1) diagnosis of extent of tumor hypoxia as well as extracellular pH and 2) mapping traumatic brain injury which is thought to involve the production of reactive oxygen species and to affect redox status of tissue. The team will study the factors that go into making decisions on the commercialization of contrast agents and new diagnostic procedures by interviewing medical doctors, radiologists, MRI company representatives, and insurance company representatives. Potential outcomes include a refined focus on the development of contrast agents for new diagnostic procedures, a business plan for proceeding with the commercialization of the agents, as well as new collaborations and networks. Commercialization of these contrast agents may create new jobs towards meeting the long term goal of substituting current technologies that use rare earth elements of limited supply.