Description of Invention:
The invention is a macromolecular imaging agent comprising a polyalkylenimine dendrimer conjugated to a metal chelate that has been shown to be an excellent agent for imaging liver micrometastases as small as about 0.3 mm in a magnetic resonance image of the human liver. In a particular embodiment, the imaging agent is a diaminobutane-core polypropylenimine dendrimer having surface amino groups conjugated to gadolinium metal chelates. The invention makes possible the earlier detection of metastatic disease, leading to earlier application of a therapeutic regime and an improved prognosis.
Inventors:
Martin W. Brechbiel (NCI) et al.
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-240-2001/0 --
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/300,882 filed 25 Jun 2001
PCT Application No. PCT/US02/20118 filed 24 Jun 2002
U.S. Patent Application No. 10/481,706 filed 27 Sep 2004
For Additional Information Please Contact: Michael Shmilovich J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5019
Email: shmilovm@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
