Nanoprobe-metal chelator complexes

1. A method of chelating metal ions in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I:

AB   I

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

A is selected from the group consisting of formulas A-1 and A-2:

wherein:

indicates the bond between A and B;

X is selected from the group consisting of a bond, C, CH 2 , NH, O and S;

each R A is an independently selected anionic group selected from the group consisting of oxide, carbonate, carboxylate, phosphate, sulfide, sulfinate, and sulfonate;

each R C is an independently selected cationic group selected from the group consisting of ammonium, C 1-6 alkylammonium, di(C 1-6 alkyl)ammonium, and tri(C 1-6 alkyl)ammonium; and

L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 are each an independently selected C 1-6 alkylene group;

B is a biocompatible polymer substituted by one or more C groups and one or more -D-E groups;

each C is independently selected from the group consisting of H and an anionic group;

each D is an independently selected linking group; and

each E is an independently selected metal chelating group.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises reducing the amount of free metal ions in the subject.

3. A method of treating a disease associated with an abnormal amount of free metal ions in a subject, comprising administering to a subject determined to have an abnormal level of free metal ions a compound of Formula I:

AB   I

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

A is selected from the group consisting of formulas A-1 and A-2:

wherein:

indicates the bond between A and B;

X is selected from the group consisting of a bond, C, CH 2 , NH, O and S;

each R A is an independently selected anionic group selected from the group consisting of oxide, carbonate, carboxylate, phosphate, sulfide, sulfinate, and sulfonate;

each R C is an independently selected cationic group selected from the group consisting of ammonium, C 1-6 alkylammonium, di(C 1-6 alkyl)ammonium, and tri(C 1-6 alkyl)ammonium; and

L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 are each an independently selected C 1-6 alkylene group;

B is a biocompatible polymer substituted by one or more C groups and one or more -D-E groups;

each C is independently selected from the group consisting of H and an anionic group;

each D is an independently selected linking group; and

each E is an independently selected metal chelating group.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the disease is associated with an abnormal amount of iron ions, an abnormal amount of lead ions, or an abnormal amount of copper ions in the subject, or any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the disease is associated with an abnormal amount of iron ions in the subject.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of transfusion hemosiderosis, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, copper poisoning, and heavy metal poisoning.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the method comprises reducing the amount of free metal ions or metal ions bound to low affinity ligands, in the bloodstream of the subject.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein A is:

9. The method of claim 3 , wherein B is selected from the group consisting of polylysine, polylactic acid, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), polyaspartic acid, polyglutamic acid, and polyglutamic acid-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer, each of which is substituted by one or more C groups and one or more -D-E groups.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein each C is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an anionic group comprising one or more alkylene groups, one or more carbonyl groups, or one or more carboxyl groups, or any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 3 , wherein D is a linking group comprising one or more alkylene groups, one or more carbonyl groups, or one or more carboxyl groups, or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 3 , wherein E is selected from the group consisting of an iron chelating group, a lead chelating group, a copper chelating group, an arsenic chelating group, a mercury chelating group, and a manganese chelating group.

13. The method of claim 3 , wherein: B is selected from the group consisting of a biocompatible polypeptide and a biocompatible polyester, each of which is substituted by one or more C groups and one or more -D-E groups;

C is an anionic group of the following formula:

wherein:

indicates the bond between C and B;

p is an integer from 1 to 10;

D is a linking group of the following formula:

wherein:

indicates the bond between D and B;

indicates the bond between D and E; and

q is an integer from 1 to 10; and

E is a metal chelating group.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein E is selected from the group consisting of an iron chelating group, a lead chelating group, and a copper chelating group.

15. The method of claim 3 , wherein E is an iron chelating group.

16. The method of claim 3 , wherein E is selected from the group consisting of dimercaptosuccinic acid, dimercaprol, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, p-aminosalicyclic acid, D-penicillamine, deferoxamine, deferiprone, and deferasirox.

17. The method of claim 3 , wherein E is deferoxamine.

18. The method of claim 3 , wherein X is a bond or CH 2 .

19. The method of claim 3 , wherein each R C is an independently selected tri(C 1-6 alkyl)ammonium group.

20. The method of claim 3 , wherein each R A is sulfonate.

21. The method of claim 3 , wherein B is polylysine substituted by one or more C groups and one or more -D-E groups.

22. The method of claim 3 , wherein B is:

wherein:

indicates the bond between B and A; and

n is an integer from 5 to 30; and

m is an integer from 1 to 10.

23. The method of claim 3 , wherein C is an anionic group of the following formula:

wherein:

indicates the bond between C and B; and

p is an integer from 1 to 10.

24. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

D is a linking group of the following formula:

wherein:

indicates the bond between D and B;

indicates the bond between D and E; and

q is an integer from 1 to 10.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein E is selected from the group consisting of dimercaptosuccinic acid, dimercaprol, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, p-aminosalicyclic acid, D-penicillamine, deferoxamine, deferiprone, and deferasirox.

26. The method of claim 3 , wherein the compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is administered to the subject in the form of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.