Trace-labeled conjugates of metallothionein and target-seeking biologically active molecules
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorGlen L. Tolman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Conjugates of target-seeking biologically active molecules and metallothionein in which all or part of the metal in the metallothionein is suitable for diagnostic or therapeutic applications.
Claims44
A conjugate of (a) a target-seeking biologically active molecule selected from the group consisting of antibodies, antibody fragments, hormones, peptides, proteins and drugs which bind to receptors and localize in certain organs, tissues and cells of the mammalian body and (b) metallothionein or metallothionein fragment in which at least a part of the metal in the metallothionein or fragment is a trace-labeled metal having sufficient affinity for the metallothionein or metallothionein fragment to bind thereto.
A conjugate of (a) a target-seeking biologically active molecule selected from the group consisting of antibodies, antibody fragments, hormones, peptides, proteins and drugs which bind to receptors and localize in certain organs, tissues and cells of the mammalian body and (b) metallothionein or metallothionein fragment in which all metal in the metallothionein or fragment
- (a) is non-radioactive and
- (b) has an affinity for metallothionein less than that of the cations selected from the group consisting of Tc, Ag, Au, Hg and Cu.
A composition comprising purified metallothionein or metallothionein fragment in which at least a part of the metallothionein or fragment is Tc-99m, in a physiologically compatible vehicle in an amount sufficient for scintigraphic imaging.
A method of trace labeling a target-seeking biologically active molecule which comprises
- (a) reacting a metallothionein or fragment thereof with a salt or salt complex of a trace-label metal having a sufficient affinity for the metallothionein or fragment to bind thereto whereby the trace-label metal replaces at least a portion of the metal in the metallothionein, and then
- (b) conjugating the metallothionein to the biologically active molecule selected from the group consisting of antibodies, antibody fragments, hormones, peptides, proteins and drugs which bind to receptors and localize in certain organs, tissues and cells of the mammalian body.
A method of trace labeling a biologically active molecule body which comprises
- (a) reacting a thionein with a salt or salt complex in which at least a portion of the metal is a trace-label metal, whereby thionein is converted to a metallothionein containing at least a portion of trace-label metal, and then
- (b) conjugating the metallothionein to the biologically active molecule selected from the group consisting of antibodies, antibody fragments, hormones, peptides, proteins and drugs which bind to receptors and localize in certain organs, tissues and cells of the mammalian body.
A method of trace-labeling a biologically active molecule which comprises
- (a) conjugating metallothionein, thionein, or a fragment thereof with a biolgically active molecule selected from the group consisting of antibodies, antibody fragments, hormones, peptides, proteins and drugs which bind to receptors and localize in certain organs, tissues and cells of the mammalian body and then
- (b) reacting a conjugate formed from step (a) with a salt or salt complex of a trace-label metal having a sufficient affinity for the metallothionein, thionein or fragment thereof to bind thereto, whereby the trace-label metal replaces at least a portion of the metal in the metallothionein or the thionein is converted to a metallothionein containing at least a portion of trace-label metal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.