Magnetic resonance imaging with fluorocarbons encapsulated in a cross-linked polymeric shell
First Claim
1. A composition for obtaining in vivo fluorine magnetic resonance images, said composition comprising fluorine-containing magnetic resonance imaging agent(s) substantially completely contained within a polymeric shell;
- wherein said polymeric shell comprises a biocompatible naturally occurring polymer which is substantially crosslinked by way of disulfide bonds,wherein said biocompatible naturally occurring polymer, prior to crosslinking, has covalently attached thereto sulfhydryl groups or disulfide groups.
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Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, compositions comprising fluorine-containing magnetic resonance imaging agent(s) contained within polymeric shells are provided. Invention compositions are useful, for example, as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Fluorinated compounds in general are hydrophobic and as such have limited water solubility; thus the invention method permits preparation of such compounds in a biocompatible form suitable for ready delivery. The shell diameter is typically approximately 2 microns in diameter. Consequently, these materials have organ specificity due to rapid scavenging by the reticuloendothial system (RES) or the mononuclear phagocyte (MNP) system upon intravenous injection. Furthermore, fluorocarbon filled polymeric shells of the invention can be used to measure and monitor local oxygen and temperature.
229 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A composition for obtaining in vivo fluorine magnetic resonance images, said composition comprising fluorine-containing magnetic resonance imaging agent(s) substantially completely contained within a polymeric shell;
- wherein said polymeric shell comprises a biocompatible naturally occurring polymer which is substantially crosslinked by way of disulfide bonds,
wherein said biocompatible naturally occurring polymer, prior to crosslinking, has covalently attached thereto sulfhydryl groups or disulfide groups. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15)
- wherein said polymeric shell comprises a biocompatible naturally occurring polymer which is substantially crosslinked by way of disulfide bonds,
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13. A composition for in vivo delivery of fluorine-containing magnetic resonance imaging agent,
wherein said agent is a solid or liquid, and is substantially completely contained within a polymeric shell, wherein the largest cross-sectional dimension of said shell is no greater than about 10 microns, wherein said polymeric shell comprises a biocompatible polymer which is substantially crosslinked by way of disulfide bonds, and wherein said polymeric shell containing agent therein is suspended in a biocompatible aqueous liquid.
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16. A composition for obtaining in vivo fluorine magnetic resonance images, said composition comprising fluorine-containing magnetic resonance imaging agent(s) substantially completely contained within a polymeric shell;
- wherein said polymeric shell comprises lipid(s) containing sulfhydryl groups and/or disulfide groups which is substantially crosslinked by way of disulfide bonds,
wherein said lipid, prior to crosslinking, has covalently attached thereto sulfhydryl groups or disulfide groups.
- wherein said polymeric shell comprises lipid(s) containing sulfhydryl groups and/or disulfide groups which is substantially crosslinked by way of disulfide bonds,
Specification