Chlorotoxin polypeptides and conjugates and uses thereof

1. A method for imaging a tissue imagable by chlorotoxin, the method comprising the step of:

contacting the tissue imagable by chlorotoxin with a chlorotoxin conjugate to image the tissue,

wherein the chlorotoxin conjugate comprises a modified chlorotoxin peptide having at least 90% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1,

and wherein the modified chlorotoxin peptide comprises a single lysine residue and is covalently coupled to an imaging agent.

2. A method for detecting cancer detectable by chlorotoxin, the method comprising the step of:

contacting the cancer tissue detectable by chlorotoxin with a chlorotoxin conjugate to detect the cancer tissue,

wherein the chlorotoxin conjugate comprises a modified chlorotoxin peptide having at least 90% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1,

and wherein the modified chlorotoxin peptide comprises a single lysine residue and is covalently coupled to a detectable agent.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the single lysine residue is at a position corresponding to position 27 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein Lys 15 and Lys 23 of the modified chlorotoxin peptide are substituted by an amino acid independently selected from the group consisting of natural and unnatural amino acids.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein Lys 15 and Lys 23 of the modified chlorotoxin peptide are substituted by alanine.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein Lys 15 and Lys 23 of the modified chlorotoxin peptide are substituted by arginine.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein Lys 15 of the modified chlorotoxin peptide is substituted by alanine and Lys 23 of the modified chlorotoxin peptide is substituted by arginine.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein Lys 15 of the modified chlorotoxin peptide is substituted by arginine and Lys 23 of the modified chlorotoxin peptide is substituted by alanine.

9. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the single lysine residue is at a position corresponding to position 15 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

10. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the single lysine residue is at a position corresponding to position 23 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the imaging agent is selected from the group consisting of a fluorescent label, a radioactive or paramagnetic isotope or ion, a ligand, a chemiluminescent agent, a bioluminescent agent, a photosensitizer, a quantum dot, a microparticle, a metal nanoparticle, a nanocluster, an enzyme, a colorimetric label, a hapten, a molecular beacon, an aptamer beacon, biotin, and dioxigenin.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a fluorescent label.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a radioactive isotope.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a paramagnetic isotope or ion.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a chemiluminescent agent selected from the group consisting of an acridinum ester and a stabilized dioxetane.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a photosensitizer selected from the group consisting of porphyrins, porphyrin derivatives, metalloporphyrins, metallophthalocyanines, angelicins, chalcogenapyrrillium dyes, chlorophylls, flavins, alloxazine, fullerenes, pheophorbides, pyropheophorbides, pheophytins, sapphyrins, texaphyrins, purpurins, porphycenes, phenothiaziniums, methylene blue derivatives, naphthalimides, nile blue derivatives, quinones, perylenequinones, psoralens, retinoids, thiophenes, verdins, xanthene dyes, dimeric porphyrins, oligomeric porphyrins, and 5-aminolevulinic acid.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a metal nanoparticle selected from the group consisting of a gold nanoparticle, a silver nanoparticle, a copper nanoparticle, and a platinum nanoparticle.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a colorimetic label selected from the group consisting of a dye and colloidal gold.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a radioactive or paramagnetic isotope selected from the group consisting of an isotope of hydrogen, an isotope of carbon, an isotope of fluorine, an isotope of phosphorous, an isotope of copper, an isotope of gallium, an isotope of yttrium, an isotope of technetium, an isotope of indium, an isotope of iodine, an isotope of rhenium, an isotope of thallium, an isotope of bismuth, an isotope of astatine, an isotope of samarium, and an isotope of lutetium.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a radioactive or paramagnetic isotope or ion selected from the group consisting of 3 H, 13 C, 14 C, 18 F, 32 P, 35 S, 64 Cu, 67 Ga, 90 Y, 99M Tc, 111 In, 125 I, 123 I, 129 I, 131 I, 135 I, 186 Re, 187 Re, 201 Tl, 212 Bi, 211 At, 153 Sm, and 177 Lu.

21. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a radioactive or paramagnetic isotope or ion selected from the group consisting of iodine-131 ( 131 I), iodine-125 ( 125 I), bismuth-212 ( 212 Bi), bismuth-213 ( 213 Bi), astatine-221 ( 221 At), copper-67 ( 67 Cu), copper-64 ( 64 Cu), rhenium-186 ( 186 Re), rhenium-188 ( 188 Re), phosphorus-32 ( 32 P), samarium-153 ( 153 Sm), technetium-99m ( 99m Tc), gallium-67 ( 67 Ga), and thallium-201 ( 201 Tl).

22. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a radioactive or paramagnetic isotope or ion selected from a group consisting of gadolinium III (Gd3+), chromium III (Cr3+), dysprosium III (Dy3+), iron III (Fe3+), manganese II (Mn2+), and ytterbium III (Yb3+).

23. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a radioactive or paramagnetic isotope or ion selected from a group consisting of carbon-13 ( 13 C) and fluorine-19 ( 19 F).

24. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises an isotope of lutetium (Lu).

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the isotope of lutetium (Lu) comprises lutetium-177 ( 177 Lu).

26. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises an isotope of indium (In).

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the isotope of indium (In) comprises indium-111 ( 111 In).

28. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a fluorescent label selected from the group consisting of a fluorescein dye, a rhodamine dye, a coumarin dye, a cyanine dye, a styryl dye, an oxonol dye, a carbocyanine, merocyanine, phycoerythrin, erythrosin, and eosin.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the fluorescent label comprises a fluorescein dye selected from the group consisting of fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanine, naphthofluorescein, 4′,5′-dichloro-2′,7′-dimethoxyfluorescein, and 6-carboxyfluorescein.

30. The method of claim 28 , wherein the fluorescent label comprises a rhodamine dye selected from the group consisting of carboxytetramethyl-rhodamine, carboxyrhodamine 6G, carboxy-X-rhodamine, lissamine rhodamine B, rhodamine 6G, rhodamine Green, rhodamine Red, and tetramethylrhodamine.

31. The method of claim 28 , wherein the fluorescent label comprises a coumarin dye selected from the group consisting of coumarin, methoxycoumarin, dialkylaminocoumarin, hydroxycoumarin, and aminomethylcoumarin.

32. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises an enzyme selected from the group consisting of horseradish peroxidase, beta-galactosidase, luciferase, alkaline phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, beta-D-glucosidase, urease, and glucose oxidase.

33. The method of claim 1 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a boron nanoparticle, a boron and carbon nanoparticle, a boron carbide nanoparticle, a boron-containing polymer, a boron and carbon containing polymer, a boron carbide polymer, or any of these nanoparticles or polymers further comprising gadolinium.

34. The method of claim 1 , wherein the imaging agent is imagable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), gamma camera imaging, or position emission tomography (PET).

35. The method of claim 1 , wherein the imaging agent is imagable by spectroscopic, photochemical, biochemical, immunochemical, electrical, optical, or chemical detection or imaging.

36. The method of claim 1 , wherein the imaging agent is covalently coupled to the modified chlorotoxin peptide through the single lysine residue.

37. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified chlorotoxin peptide is further covalently coupled to a targeting agent.

38. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified chlorotoxin peptide is further covalently coupled to a diagnostic agent.

39. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified chlorotoxin peptide is further covalently coupled to a therapeutic agent.

40. The method of claim 39 , wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of methotrexate, docetaxel, cisplatin, etoposide, paclitaxel, a single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ssDNA), a double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA), a short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA), a short hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNA), and a ribonucleic acid that mediates ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi).

41. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises riboflavin.

42. The method of claim 2 , wherein the detectable agent is selected from the group consisting of a fluorescent label, a radioactive or paramagnetic isotope or ion, a ligand, a chemiluminescent agent, a bioluminescent agent, a photosensitizer, a quantum dot, a microparticle, a metal nanoparticle, a nanocluster, an enzyme, a colorimetric label, a hapten, a molecular beacon, an aptamer beacon, biotin, and dioxigenin.

43. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a fluorescent label.

44. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a radioactive isotope.

45. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a paramagnetic isotope or ion.

46. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a chemiluminescent agent selected from the group consisting of an acridinum ester and a stabilized dioxetane.

47. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a photosensitizer selected from the group consisting of porphyrins, porphyrin derivatives, metalloporphyrins, metallophthalocyanines, angelicins, chalcogenapyrrillium dyes, chlorophylls, flavins, alloxazine, fullerenes, pheophorbides, pyropheophorbides, pheophytins, sapphyrins, texaphyrins, purpurins, porphycenes, phenothiaziniums, methylene blue derivatives, naphthalimides, nile blue derivatives, quinones, perylenequinones, psoralens, retinoids, thiophenes, verdins, xanthene dyes, dimeric porphyrins, oligomeric porphyrins, and 5-aminolevulinic acid.

48. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a metal nanoparticle selected from the group consisting of a gold nanoparticle, a silver nanoparticle, a copper nanoparticle, and a platinum nanoparticle.

49. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a colorimetic label selected from the group consisting of a dye and colloidal gold.

50. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a radioactive or paramagnetic isotope selected from the group consisting of an isotope of hydrogen, an isotope of carbon, an isotope of fluorine, an isotope of phosphorous, an isotope of copper, an isotope of gallium, an isotope of yttrium, an isotope of technetium, an isotope of indium, an isotope of iodine, an isotope of rhenium, an isotope of thallium, an isotope of bismuth, an isotope of astatine, an isotope of samarium, and an isotope of lutetium.

51. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a radioactive or paramagnetic isotope or ion selected from the group consisting of 3 H, 13 C, 14 C, 18 F, 32 P, 35 S, 64 Cu, 67 Ga, 90 Y, 99M Tc, 111 In, 125 I, 123 I, 129 I, 131 I, 135 I, 186 Re, 187 Re, 201 Tl, 212 Bi, 211 At, 153 Sm, and 177 Lu.

52. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a radioactive or paramagnetic isotope or ion selected from the group consisting of iodine-131 ( 131 I), iodine-125 ( 125 I), bismuth-212 ( 212 Bi), bismuth-213 ( 213 Bi), astatine-221 ( 221 At), copper-67 ( 67 Cu), copper-64 ( 64 Cu), rhenium-186 ( 186 Re), rhenium-188 ( 188 Re), phosphorus-32 ( 32 P), samarium-153 ( 153 Sm), technetium-99m ( 99m Tc), gallium-67 ( 67 Ga), and thallium-201 ( 201 Tl).

53. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a radioactive or paramagnetic isotope or ion selected from a group consisting of gadolinium III (Gd3+), chromium III (Cr3+), dysprosium III (Dy3+), iron III (Fe3+), manganese II (Mn2+), and ytterbium III (Yb3+).

54. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a radioactive or paramagnetic isotope or ion selected from a group consisting of carbon-13 ( 13 C) and fluorine-19 ( 19 F).

55. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises an isotope of lutetium (Lu).

56. The method of claim 55 , wherein the isotope of lutetium (Lu) comprises lutetium-177 ( 177 Lu).

57. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises an isotope of indium (In).

58. The method of claim 57 , wherein the isotope of indium (In) comprises indium-111 ( 111 In).

59. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a fluorescent label selected from the group consisting of a fluorescein dye, a rhodamine dye, a coumarin dye, a cyanine dye, a styryl dye, an oxonol dye, a carbocyanine, merocyanine, phycoerythrin, erythrosin, and eosin.

60. The method of claim 59 , wherein the fluorescent label comprises a fluorescein dye selected from the group consisting of fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanine, naphthofluorescein, 4′,5′-dichloro-2′,7′-dimethoxyfluorescein, and 6-carboxyfluorescein.

61. The method of claim 59 , wherein the fluorescent label comprises a rhodamine dye selected from the group consisting of carboxytetramethyl-rhodamine, carboxyrhodamine 6G, carboxy-X-rhodamine, lissamine rhodamine B, rhodamine 6G, rhodamine Green, rhodamine Red, and tetramethylrhodamine.

62. The method of claim 59 , wherein the fluorescent label comprises a coumarin dye selected from the group consisting of coumarin, methoxycoumarin, dialkylaminocoumarin, hydroxycoumarin, and aminomethylcoumarin.

63. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises an enzyme selected from the group consisting of horseradish peroxidase, beta-galactosidase, luciferase, alkaline phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, beta-D-glucosidase, urease, and glucose oxidase.

64. The method of claim 2 , wherein the detectable agent comprises a boron nanoparticle, a boron and carbon nanoparticle, a boron carbide nanoparticle, a boron-containing polymer, a boron and carbon containing polymer, a boron carbide polymer, or any of these nanoparticles or polymers further comprising gadolinium.

65. The method of claim 2 , wherein the detectable agent is detectable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), gamma camera imaging, or position emission tomography (PET).

66. The method of claim 2 , wherein the detectable agent is detectable by spectroscopic, photochemical, biochemical, immunochemical, electrical, optical, or chemical detection or imaging.

67. The method of claim 2 , wherein the detectable agent is covalently coupled to the modified chlorotoxin peptide through the single lysine residue.

68. The method of claim 2 , wherein the modified chlorotoxin peptide is further covalently coupled to a targeting agent.

69. The method of claim 2 , wherein the modified chlorotoxin peptide is further covalently coupled to a diagnostic agent.

70. The method of claim 2 , wherein the modified chlorotoxin peptide is further covalently coupled to a therapeutic agent.

71. The method of claim 70 , wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of methotrexate, docetaxel, cisplatin, etoposide, paclitaxel, a single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ssDNA), a double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA), a short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA), a short hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNA), and a ribonucleic acid that mediates ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi).

72. The method of claim 42 , wherein the detectable agent comprises riboflavin.