Optical contrast agents for optically modifying incident radiation

• US 20060121123A9
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Inventors: Boppart, Stephen A., Marks, Daniel L., Toublan, Farah Jean-Jacques, Suslick, Kenneth S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,198,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/491
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/6925 the form being a microcapsule, nanocapsule, microbubble or nanobubble
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1694 resulting in granules or microspheres of the matrix type containing more than 5% of excipient
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/5089 Processes

Abstract

A method of enhancing the contrast of an image of a sample, comprises forming an image of a mixture, by exposing the mixture to electromagnetic radiation. The mixture comprises the sample and microparticles. The enhancement is particularly suitable for optical coherence tomography.

Claims

1. A method of forming an image of a sample, comprising:

forming an image of a mixture, by exposing the mixture to electromagnetic radiation;

wherein the mixture comprises the sample and microparticles,

the microparticles further comprise a surface coat, and

the electromagnetic radiation is in the frequency range of infra-red to ultraviolet light.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the image is by a method selected from the group consisting of optical coherence tomography, light microscopy, holography, confocal microscopy, polarization microscopy, interference microscopy, multi-photon microscopy, and endoscopy.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the image is by optical coherence tomography.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the microparticles comprise cross-linked protein.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface coat comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, antibodies, membrane receptor ligands, colloids, and particles.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein

the colloids are silica, gold, or silver colloids, and

wherein the particles are melanin, iron or carbon.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the surface coat comprises polyethylene glycol.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the surface coat comprises antibodies.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the microparticles further comprise an inner core comprising solid, liquid, or solid and liquid.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the microparticles further comprise a dye or pigment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the dye or pigment is charged or magnetic.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising exposing the sample to an alternating electric or magnetic field.

14. The method of claim 3, wherein the sample is a patient.

15. The method of claim 4, wherein the sample is a human patient.

2. (canceled)

16-30. -30. (canceled)

31. In a method of forming an image by optical coherence tomography, including exposing a patient to electromagnetic radiation, collecting reflected electromagnetic radiation, and forming an image from the collected electromagnetic radiation, the improvement comprising administering a contrast agent to the patient to enhance contrast of the image,

wherein the contrast agent comprises microparticles comprising a surface coat, and

the microparticles comprise cross-linked protein.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the contrast agent comprises microparticles further comprising:

an inner core comprising a charged or magnetic pigment or dye.

33. (canceled)

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the surface coat comprises polyethylene glycol.

35. A method of forming an image of a sample, comprising:

forming an image of a mixture, by exposing the mixture to electromagnetic radiation;

wherein the mixture comprises the sample and microparticles,

the microparticles further comprise a surface coat,

the electromagnetic radiation is in the frequency range of infra-red to ultraviolet light,

the forming of the image is by optical coherence tomography, and

the surface coat comprises polyethylene glycol.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the microparticles comprise cross-linked protein.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the microparticles further comprise an inner core comprising solid, liquid, or solid and liquid.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the microparticles further comprise a dye or pigment.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the dye or pigment is charged or magnetic.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising exposing the sample to an alternating electric or magnetic field.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein the sample is a patient.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein the sample is a human patient.