HYPERPOLARIZATION METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPOSITIONS

• US 20120114851A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Millikelvin Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Millikelvin Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Kalechofsky, Neal, Belzer, Avrum
• Granted Patent: US 8,703,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/213
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/1806 Suspensions, emulsions, colloids, dispersions
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/1815 compo-inhalant, e.g. breath tests

Abstract

The disclosure provides various methods and systems for providing hyperpolarized materials as well as the hyperpolarized materials so provided. In addition, methods of providing hyperpolarized materials, such as agents, to end users from a remote location are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of producing a beneficial agent, comprising:

a) providing a core material including material selected from the group consisting of (i) liquid material, (ii) solid material, (iii) gaseous material interspersed with a solid material, (iv) gaseous material interspersed with a liquid material, (v) gaseous material, and combinations thereof;

b) disposing the core material in an encapsulating medium, the encapsulating medium being made from a different material from the core material;

c) exposing the encapsulating medium and core material to an environment that causes the core material to become hyperpolarized after the core material is encapsulated in the encapsulating medium.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hyperpolarization step includes:

a) cooling the core material disposed in the encapsulating medium in an environment less than 10K;

b) applying a magnetic field to the core material disposed in the encapsulating medium having a strength in excess of 10 mT.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the core material freezes and contracts away from the encapsulating medium during the cooling step to create a gap between the encapsulating medium and the core material.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising exposing the encapsulated material to ³He when it is exposed to a temperature less than 10K.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the encapsulated material has a porous surface portion to permit passage of the ³He therethrough into the gap defined between the core material and the encapsulating medium to permit the ³He to come into intimate contact with the core material, and further wherein the ³He increases the rate at which the polarization of the core material is increased.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the porous surface portion of the capsule includes polymeric material.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the polymeric material includes polytetrafluoroethylene, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), polyanhydrides, polyorthoesters, polyvinylalchols, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the polymeric material includes poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid).

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the polymeric material includes a polyanhydride material.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the polymeric material includes a polyorthoester.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the polymeric material includes a polyvinylalchol material.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the porosity of the encapsulating medium substantially permits passage of helium through the encapsulating medium and substantially prohibits passage of molecules through the encapsulating medium larger than helium.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the core portion includes material selected from the group consisting of ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹H, ³¹P, ¹⁹F, ²⁹Si and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the core material disposed in the encapsulating medium is cooled to a temperature below 1K.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the magnetic field has a maximum strength in excess of 1 T.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the magnetic field has a maximum strength in excess of 10 T.

17. The method of claim 5, further comprising exposing the core material to ⁴He to cause ⁴He to enter the gap defined between the core material and the encapsulating medium to displace the ³He from the core material.

18. The method of claim 2, further comprising transporting the encapsulated hyperpolarized material in a container from a first location to a second location.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising introducing the encapsulated hyperpolarized material into a region of interest to be analyzed.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating magnetic resonance images of the region of interest.