Novel Rotaxane-Type Probe For Molecular Imaging
AssigneeUniversity of Rhode Island Board of Trustees
InventorsBrenton DeBoef, Ashvin Fernando
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Abstract
The invention provides a novel method for synthesizing hyperpolarized xenon-129 (HP Xe) biosensors by using pseudo-rotaxane structures of gamma-cyclodextrin. These supramolecular complexes form novel ternary structures in the presence of HP Xe which can be detected via 129Xe MR spectroscopy and imaging techniques. The rotaxane-type complex can be tagged with an affinity label for detecting a target in a biological subject.
Claims20
A supramolecular complex useful as a biosensor, comprising:
- (a) a macrocycle host defining a hydrophobic cavity;
- and
- (b) an axle comprising a molecular chain functionalized with an affinity tag for a target inside a biological subject, wherein the affinity tag is at or near an end of the molecular chain, and wherein the axle is threaded through the macrocycle cavity.
A method for detecting a target inside a biological subject, comprising the steps of:
- (a) delivering, into a biological subject, a biosensor comprising:
- (i) a macrocycle host defining a hydrophobic cavity;
- (ii) an axle comprising a molecular chain capped with a hydrophobic end group at or near each of its two ends;
- and (iii) an affinity tag for a target inside a biological subject, wherein the axle is threaded through the macrocycle cavity and the affinity tag is affixed to either the macrocycle host or the axle;
- (b) delivering, into the same biological subject, a xenon molecule to permit the molecule to form a ternary complex with the biosensor;
- and
- (c) detecting the ternary complex hence the target inside the subject using xenon-based magnetic resonance imaging or spectroscopy.
A rotaxane-type biosensor comprising:
- (a) a cyclodextrin molecule defining a cavity;
- and
- (b) an alkyl chain molecule functionalized with an affinity tag at or near each of its two ends, wherein the affinity tag has an affinity for a target inside a biological subject, and wherein the alkyl chain molecule is threaded through the cavity in the cyclodextrin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.