Unmet Need
With 30 million magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans (Envision Radiology) and 80 million computed tomography (CT) scans each year in the United States alone (Harvard Health), medical imaging has become a powerful tool for doctors to diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries ranging from cancer to respiratory diseases. However, each modality has its limitations. For example, MRI visualizes soft tissues (e.g., brain, ligaments) better, while CT better captures hard tissues (e.g., bones). Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is currently in clinical development and detects contrast agents directly as hot spot tracers, but without anatomical context. Yet, combining multiple imaging modalities to overcome said limitations is currently inefficient as each imaging technique needs different contrast agents. Thus, there is currently a need for a contrast agent that can be used in multiple imaging techniques and ideally simultaneously assists in targeted treatment as a theranostic agent during and after imaging.
Technology Overview
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed a novel all-in-one multimodal contrast agent usable in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic particle imaging (MPI), magnetic-motive ultrasound (MMUS) imaging, (magneto)photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and computed tomography (CT). Moreover, the contrast agent doubles as a theranostic sensitizer for photothermal therapy, magnetic hyperthermia, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and radiotherapy. Significantly, the invention’s compatibility with MPI, a novel imaging method projected to have widespread use in the near future, captures a new niche among current multimodal contrast agents.
Stage of Development
In vivo cell tracking of stem cells demonstrate that the invention can act as an excellent MRI/MPI/CT/MMUS/PAI agent with no cytotoxicity. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro cancer models show that the invention can be used for cancer diagnosis and treatment, is adaptable to virtually any tumor specific ligand, and is an effective HIFU, magnetic hyperthermia, photothermal therapy, and radiation therapy sensitizer.
Publication
Abstract involving invention to be presented at conferences starting July 24, 2022.
