Improved MRI Contrast Agents

描述（由申请人提供）：一类新的MRI造影剂 被纳米探针发现并合成。初始MRI动物研究 显示出对某些类型的脑肿瘤的良好定义， 常用药物钆双胺检测不到。此外，初始 毒性研究表明这些药剂是无毒的。一个新的代理人被耦合 并在实验室试验中显示出对抗原的高递送，表明 有望开发出功能性MRI靶向造影剂。这 项目将侧重于持续发展，包括化学合成， 纯化，化学和磁性表征，体内动物研究， 和抗体在体内靶向所述试剂。 拟议的商业应用： 磁共振成像是一种非常有用的非侵入性技术。不幸的是，目前的造影剂对许多脑肿瘤的检测效果很差。新的药物不仅可以改善脑部的成像，还可以改善乳腺癌、前列腺癌和其他癌症的成像，这将有广泛的应用。此外，靶向药物的开发可以在功能上区分良性和恶性肿瘤，并用于诊断许多其他疾病。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A new class of MRI contrast agents has been discovered and synthesized by Nanoprobes. Initial MRI animal studies showed excellent definition of some types of brain tumors, which were undetectable with the commonly used agent, gadodiamide. Furthermore, initial toxicity studies showed the agents to be non-toxic. One new agent was coupled to antibodies and showed high delivery to antigen on bench tests, indicating hope for development of targeted contrast agents for functional MRI. This project will focus on continued development including chemical synthesis, purification, chemical and magnetic characterization, in vivo animal studies, and antibody targeting of the agents in vivo. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: MRI us a highly useful non-invasive technique. Unfortunately, many brain tumors are poorly detected with the current contrast agents. New agents that give improved imaging of not only brain, but breast, prostate and other cancers would have extensive application. Furthermore, the development of targeted agents could functionally distinguish between benign and malignant tumors and be used to diagnose many other conditions.