Derivatized gold clusters and antibody-gold cluster conjugates
AssigneeAssociated Universities, Inc.
InventorsJames F. Hainfeld, Frederic R. Furuya
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Abstract
Antibody- or antibody fragment-gold cluster conjugates are shown wherein the conjugate size can be as small as 5.0 nm. Methods and reagents are disclosed in which antibodies, Fab' or F(ab').sub.2 fragments thereof are covalently bound to a stable cluster of gold atoms. The gold clusters may contain 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 55 or 67 gold atoms in their inner core. The clusters may also contain radioactive gold. The antibody-cluster conjugates are useful in electron microscopy applications as well as in clinical applications that include imaging, diagnosis and therapy.
Claims6
An antibody-gold cluster conjugate wherein the antibody is covalently bound to the cluster and the gold cluster is the monomaleimide undecagold cluster shown in FIG. 3.
An antibody fragment-gold cluster conjugate wherein the antibody fragment is covalently bound to the cluster and the gold cluster is the monomaleimide undecagold cluster shown in FIG. 3.
An antibody-gold cluster conjugate wherein the antibody is covalently bound to the cluster and the gold cluster has the formula Au.sub.13 [P(PhCONH(CH.sub.2).sub.3)NH.sub.2 ].sub.10.
An antibody fragment-gold cluster conjugate wherein the antibody fragment is covalently bound to the cluster and the gold cluster has the formula Au.sub.13 [P(PhCONH(CH.sub.2).sub.3)NH.sub.2 ].sub.10.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.