Method for detection of fibrin clots

• US 6,977,068 B1
• Filed: 07/23/1998
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Australian National University
• Original Assignee: Australian National University
• Inventors: Burch, William M., Shats, Elena A., Nair, Chenicheri H., Senden, Timothy J., Browitt, Rodney J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Padmanashan, Sreeni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mitchell, Gregory W.
• Application Number:
  US09/463,082
• Time in Patent Office: 2,707 Days
• Field of Search: 424/1.11, 424/1.13, 424/1.65, 424/1.81, 424/9.1, 424/9.3
• US Class Current: 424/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 51/1251 micro- or nanospheres, micro- or nanobeads, micro- or nanocapsules
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/02 Antithrombotic agents; Anticoagulants; Platelet aggregation inhibitors

Abstract

A method for the detection of fibrin in a source, in particular the in vivo detection of a fibrin in a patient, the method comprising supplying to the source or patient an amount of a detectable reagent comprising a plurality of discrete particles, each of the particles comprising a plurality of layers of carbon and being capable of binding to fibrin; and detecting the presence of the particles in the source. The particles may also comprise a detectable marker encased in said plurality of layers of carbon, the presence of said marker being capable of detection in said source.

Claims

1. A method for the in vivo detection of fibrin, said method comprising the steps of:

administering to said patient an effective amount of a detectable reagent comprising discrete diagnostic particles dispersed in a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable carrier, diluent, excipient, adjuvant or any combination thereof, wherein said diagnostic particles comprise a detectable marker encased in at least two layers of carbon, wherein upon administration of said reagent said diagnostic particles are dispersed in the aqueous medium and form a stable colloid and wherein said particles are made by heating a carbon crucible having deposited thereon a detectable marker to a temperature in the range of 2250°

C. to 3000°

C. in an inert gas and in a sealed container, thereby generating particles suspended in said inert gas, and precipitating said particles suspended in said inert gas to form said diagnostic particles;

binding said diagnostic particles to said fibrin, wherein said diagnostic particles exhibit a specific affinity for said fibrin; and

detecting the presence of said detectable marker in said patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said particles suspended in said inert gas are precipitated using an electrostatic precipitator.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is an aqueous solution.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution is 5% glucose in water.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a surface of said diagnostic particles is coated with a surfactant coating, thereby generating surfactant coated diagnostic particles, and wherein said surfactant coating increases the binding efficiency of said surfactant coated diagnostic particles with fibrin relative to diagnostic particles not having said surfactant coating.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said diagnostic particles form a nanocolloid upon administration of said detectable reagent.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said surfactant coating comprises C₁₆EO₆.

8. A method for the in vivo detection of fibrin present in the bloodstream of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:

administering to the bloodstream of said subject an effective amount of a detectable reagent comprising discrete diagnostic particles dispersed in a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable carrier, diluent, excipient, adjuvant or any combination thereof, wherein said diagnostic particles comprise a detectable marker encased in about 2 to 20 layers of carbon, wherein said diagnostic particles are made by heating a carbon crucible having deposited thereon a detectable marker to a temperature in the range of 2250°

C. to 3000°

C., thereby generating suspended particles, and precipitating said suspended particles to form said diagnostic particles, wherein upon administration of said reagent said diagnostic particles are dispersed in the aqueous medium and form a stable colloid;

binding said diagnostic particles to said fibrin, wherein said diagnostic particles exhibit a specific affinity for said fibrin; and

detecting the presence of said detectable marker in said bloodstream of said subject.

9. A method for the in vivo detection of fibrin present in a blood vessel of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:

administering into said blood vessel of the subject an effective amount of a detectable reagent comprising discrete diagnostic particles dispersed in a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable carrier, diluent, excipient, adjuvant or any combination thereof, wherein said diagnostic particles comprise a detectable marker encased in at least two layers of carbon, wherein said diagnostic particles are made by heating a carbon crucible having deposited thereon a detectable marker to a temperature in the range of 2250°

C. to 3000°

C., thereby generating suspended particles, and precipitating said suspended particles to form said diagnostic particles, wherein upon administration of said reagent said diagnostic particles are dispersed in the aqueous medium and form a stable colloid;

binding said diagnostic particles to said fibrin, wherein said diagnostic particles exhibit a specific affinity for said fibrin; and

detecting the presence of said detectable marker in said blood vessel of said subject.