Multimodal MRI Contrast Agents
- Technology Benefits
- Provideenhanced contrastAllow forcoregistration and validationCan beoptimized and functionalized to expand the range of possible applications
- Detailed Technology Description
- New class of multimodal MR contrast agents improves signal, enables validation of MR images and biochemical studies in vivo #healthcare #imaging #MRI
- *Abstract
-
Northwestern researchers have developed a novel magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent that improves current imaging use and expands applications. Present day contrast agents are limited in the number of simultaneous imaging modalities employed and often display poor magnetism. This new contrast agent is composed of two subunits that are covalently linked with each contributing favorable properties. The subunits of the multimodal MRI contrast agent can be modified with dyes adding an optical modality to the MR functions, providing invaluable validation to MRI scans. Furthermore, the two-subunit linkers between of the contrast agent can be made cleavable by enzymes of interest to clinicians. Thus cancer progression can be monitored using this reagent by measuring the activity of matrix metalloproteases on the cleavable linkers. Clinical diagnosis of disease by MRI can be supplemented by molecular data to facilitate appropriate patient treatment. This novel contrast agent holds promise for both diagnostic and clinical use.
- *Inventors
- Elise Ann Schultz SikmaMohammed AslamVinayak P. DravidBradley D. UlrichThomas J. Meade*
- Country/Region
- USA
