Methods and Systems for Magnetic Focusing of Therapeutic, Diagnostic or Prophylactic Agents to Deep Targets

• US 20110054237A1
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Glasgow
• Original Assignee: University of Maryland, College Park
• Inventors: Probst, Roland, Shapiro, Benjamin, Potts, Hugh, Lubbe, Andreas, Diver, Declan
• Granted Patent: US 8,888,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/00 Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/00 Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for trapping or focusing magnetizable particles comprising therapeutic agents at a distance using a dynamic magnetic field and feedback control, to enable the treatment of diseased areas deep inside a patient'"'"'s body. The methods may be used to diagnose or treat diseased areas deep within a patient, for example tumors of the lungs, intestines, and liver, and is also useful in enhancing the permeability of solid tumors to chemotherapeutic agents.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient comprising, said method comprising the steps:

(A) administering a plurality of magnetizable objects to a patient;

(B) externally applying a dynamic magnetic field to the patient in order to focus the plurality of magnetizable objects to a deep target area within the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of magnetizable objects comprises a magnetizable component of a ferrofluid, and wherein, in said step (B) said external application of said dynamic magnetic field focuses the ferrofluid to a deep target area within the patient;

and wherein said method additionally comprises the step;

(C) determining the effectiveness of said focusing over a period of time by detecting at least one location of the ferrofluid within the patient at different times.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of magnetizable objects comprises a therapeutic agent;

and wherein said method additionally comprises the steps;

(C) detecting at least one location of the plurality of magnetizable objects within the patient; and

(D) adjusting the dynamic magnetic field based on said detection.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said method additionally comprises the step:

(E) focusing said magnetizable objects to a target area of said patient that is at least 5 centimeters inside the patient by external application of said magnetic field.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein in said step (D), said deep target area is at least 5 centimeters inside the patient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said magnetizable objects are between about 1 μ

m and 1 mm in diameter.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said magnetizable objects are between about 1 μ

m and 1 nm in diameter.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein in said step A, said plurality of magnetizable objects is a magnetizable component of a ferrofluid.

9. The method of any of claim 1, wherein said administering step comprises injecting said plurality of magnetizable objects into the patient.

10. The method of any of claim 1, wherein said magnetizable objects comprise a therapeutic, diagnostic or prophylactic agent.

11. The method of any of claim 1, wherein said magnetizable objects comprise a detectable label.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said detectable label is a radioisotopic label, a paramagnetic label, a CARS (coherent anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy)-detectable label, a multiphoton fluorescence microscopy-detectable label, a harmonic microscopy-detectable label, an acoustic imaging-detectable label, an impedance spectroscopy-detectable label or a reflectance spectroscopy-detectable label.

13. The method of any of claim 1, wherein said dynamic magnetic field has a rate of change of up to about 20 Tesla/second.

14. The method of any of claim 1, wherein the target area is associated with a cancer, a disease of the vascular system, an infection, or non-cancerous disease material.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the target area is located at least 5 centimeters inside the patient.

16. The method of any of claim 1, further comprising detecting at least one location of the plurality of magnetizable objects within the patient.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said detecting comprises using magnetic resonance imaging.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said magnetizable objects comprise a radioisotopic label, a paramagnetic label, a CARS (coherent anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy)-detectable label, a multiphoton fluorescence microscopy-detectable label, a harmonic microscopy-detectable label, an acoustic imaging-detectable label, an impedance spectroscopy-detectable label or a reflectance spectroscopy-detectable label, and wherein said detecting detects said label.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising a feedback controller to control the dynamic magnetic field in response to said detection.

20. The method of any claim 1, wherein the effectiveness of said focusing is measured over a period of time.

21. A composition for administration to a patient, wherein said composition comprises a plurality of magnetizable objects that comprise a therapeutic, diagnostic or prophylactic agent and that is capable of being focused to a deep target area within a patient by external application of a magnetic field.

22. The composition of claim 21, wherein said plurality of magnetizable objects comprises a magnetizable component of a ferrofluid.

23. The composition of claim 21, wherein the said deep target area is at least 5 centimeters inside the patient.

24. The composition of claim 21, wherein said magnetizable objects are between about 1 μ

m and 1 mm in diameter.

25. The composition of claim 24, wherein said magnetizable objects are between about 1 μ

m and 1 nm in diameter.

27. The composition of claim 21, wherein said medicament is suitable for injection into said patient.

28. The composition of claim 21, wherein, wherein said magnetizable objects comprise a therapeutic agent.

29. The composition of claim 21, wherein said magnetizable objects comprise a detectable label.

30. The composition of claim 29, wherein said detectable label is a radioisotopic label, a paramagnetic label, a CARS (coherent anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy)-detectable label, a multiphoton fluorescence microscopy-detectable label, a harmonic microscopy-detectable label, an acoustic imaging-detectable label, an impedance spectroscopy-detectable label or a reflectance spectroscopy-detectable label.

31. The composition of claim 21, wherein said magnetic field is a dynamic magnetic field has having a rate of change of up to about 20 Tesla/second.

32. The composition of claim 21, wherein the said agent is a therapeutic, diagnostic or prophylactic agent for a cancer, a disease of the vascular system, an infection, or a non-cancerous disease material.

26. The composition of claim wherein said plurality of magnetizable objects is a magnetizable component of a ferrofluid.

33. (canceled)

34. A device for externally applying a dynamic magnetic field to a patient sufficient to focus a plurality of magnetizable objects, or a ferrofluid composed thereof, to a deep target area within the patient, wherein said device comprises:

(A) an array of independently operable magnets, where the magnets may be permanent magnets, electromagnets, or a combination thereof;

(B) a sensor system capable of detecting at least one location of a plurality of magnetizable objects within the patient; and

(C) a Dynamic Magnetic Field generator capable of dynamically and individually controlling the direction and strength of the magnetic fields of said magnets to thereby focus the plurality of magnetizable objects to the deep target area within the patient.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein said magnets are independently operable electromagnets.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein said magnets are independently adjustable permanent magnets.

37. The device of claim 34, wherein said magnets comprise a combination of independently operable electromagnets and independently adjustable permanent magnets.

38. The device of claim 34, wherein said deep target area is at least 5 centimeters inside said patient.

39. The device of claim 34, wherein said magnetizable objects are between about 1 μ

m and 1 mm in diameter.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein said magnetizable objects are between about 1 μ

m and 1 nm in diameter.

41. The device of claim 34, wherein said magnetizable objects comprise a therapeutic, diagnostic or prophylactic agent.

42. The device of claim 34, wherein said magnetizable objects comprise a detectable label and said device additionally comprises:

(D) a detector capable of detecting said detectable label.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein said detector (D) is capable of detecting a radioisotopic label, a paramagnetic label, a CARS (coherent anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy)-detectable label, a multiphoton fluorescence microscopy-detectable label, a harmonic microscopy-detectable label, an acoustic imaging-detectable label, an impedance spectroscopy-detectable label or a reflectance spectroscopy-detectable label.

44. The device of claim 34, wherein Dynamic Magnetic Field generator (C) is capable of causing a dynamic magnetic field rate of up to about 20 Tesla/second

45. The device of claim 42, wherein said device additionally comprises:

(E) a feedback controller to control the dynamic magnetic field in response to said detection of said detectable label.

46. The device of claim 34, wherein said device additionally measures effectiveness of said focusing over a period of time.