Compositions and methods for non-invasive imaging
The present invention relates to a novel composition useful in targeted diagnostic and/or therapy of a target site, such as cancerous tissue. The composition and methods disclosed herein find particular use in diagnosing and imaging cancerous tissue. The present invention provides a new diagnostic tool for the utilization of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging technique.
1. A liposomal imaging agent composition comprising: (a) liposomes in a pharmaceutically acceptable medium, said liposomes each having an interior space and a membrane separating said interior from said medium, said membrane comprising one or more lipids; and (b) a compound comprising a chelated metal ion, M, as shown in formula (II) in at least one liposome of the liposomes of (a):
in which M is a copper cation detectable within the liposomal imaging agent.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein M is a radioisotope of the copper cation.
3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the radioisotope is a radioisotope of Cu 2+ .
4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the radioisotope of Cu 2+ is 64 Cu or 67 Cu.
5. The composition of claim 1 , comprising:
liposomes in a pharmaceutically acceptable medium, said liposomes each having an interior space and a membrane separating said interior from said medium, said membrane comprising DSPC, cholesterol and PEG-DSPE.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the liposome membrane comprises DSPC, Cholesterol and PEG-DSPE in a weight ratio of 3:1:1.
7. A liposomal imaging agent comprising a detectable 64 Cu:4-DEAP-ATSC encapsulated in a liposome, the liposome having a liposome membrane comprising DSPC, Cholesterol and PEG-DSPE.
8. The liposomal imaging agent of claim 7 , having an external pH of 5-8.
9. The liposomal imaging agent of claim 7 , having an external pH of about 7.4.
10. The liposomal imaging agent of claim 7 , further comprising a nonpolymeric anionic trapping agent encapsulated within the liposome.
11. The liposomal imaging agent of claim 7 , further comprising sucrose octasulfate encapsulated within the liposome.
12. The liposomal imaging agent of claim 7 , wherein the liposome membrane comprises DSPC, Cholesterol and PEG-DSPE in a 3:1:1 weight ratio.
13. The liposomal imaging agent of claim 12 , further comprising sucrose octasulfate encapsulated within the liposome.
14. The liposomal imaging agent of claim 7 , comprising Cu 2+ in an amount providing radioactivity detectable within a patient.
15. An imaging agent comprising a compound of formula (II) encapsulated in a liposome, in an amount providing detectable radioactivity within a patient, here M is a Cu 2+ radioisotope
16. The imaging agent of claim 15 , wherein the liposome comprises a PEGylated lipid.
17. The imaging agent of claim 15 , wherein the liposome comprises DSPC, Cholesterol and PEG-DSPE.
18. The imaging agent of claim 17 , further comprising sucrose octasulfate encapsulated with the compound of formula (II) within the liposome and having an external pH of about 7.4.
19. The imaging agent of claim 17 , having an external pH of 5-8.