Loading patent…
OwnerSanjiv S. Gambhir, Michael Benoit +4inventors
InventorsSanjiv S. Gambhir, Michael Benoit, A. C. Matin, Yoram Barak, Shay Keren, Dirk Mayer
Estimating the term…
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is enhanced by contrast agents such as superparamagnetic iron-oxide (SPIO) particles that resemble magnetite particles produced by magnetotactic bacteria. Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 produces positive MRI contrast when generating ultrasmall magnetite particles (10-40 nm diameter). Positive MRI contrast permits clearer distinction from image voids compared to negative contrast. T1-weighted MRI showed that such bacteria increased positive contrast 2.2-fold (p<0.02) in vitro and 2.0-fold (p<0.02) following intratumoral injection in mouse tumor xenografts. Upon intravenous delivery, Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 targeted tumors and generated increased positive MRI contrast in them (1.4-fold; p<0.01). AMB-1 tumor targeting was shown by viable counts, microPET imaging of radio-labeled AMB-1, and Prussian blue staining of tumor sections. Thus, magnetotactic bacteria provide a tool for improving cancer diagnosis and monitoring treatment response by MRI.
A method of cultivating a magnetotactic bacterium, comprising:
A bacterium cultivated in a growth medium comprising an iron salt, whereupon the cultivated bacterium comprises magnetite particles having a diametric size between about 5 nm to about 50 nm, wherein the cultivated magnetotactic bacteria are characterized as providing contrast enhancement of an magnetic resonance image of a cancerous lesion when contacted with said lesion.
A composition comprising magnetotactic bacteria cultivated in a growth medium comprising an iron salt, whereupon the cultivated bacteria comprise magnetite particles having a diametric size between about 5 nm to about 50 nm, wherein the cultivated magnetotactic bacteria are characterized as providing contrast enhancement of an magnetic resonance image of a cancerous lesion when contacted with said lesion;
A method of obtaining enhancement of positive contrast of a magnetic resonance image, comprising:
A method of detecting a target tissue in a subject, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.