B/B-like fragment targeting for the purposes of photodynamic therapy and medical imaging
AssigneeVirginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
InventorsBrian Storrie, Maria Tarrago-Trani, Sam English
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides compositions and methods for use in delivering a substance of interest to a targeted cell. The substance of interest is associated with a targeting fragment of a toxin molecule or a lectin that specifically binds to a cell surface receptor, such as the B subunit of an A/B type toxin molecule. The substance of interest may be a photosensitizing agent, in which case the cell (e.g. a cancer cell) may be killed by exposure to light after delivery of the agent. Alternatively, the substance of interest may be a visualizing agent that enhances visualization of the targeted cell.
Claims14
A method for identifying a cell surface receptor of interest in patients and clinical samples, comprising the steps of
- a) providing to said patients or clinical samples a composition comprising a targeting fragment of a toxin or lectin molecule and a visualizing agent, wherein said visualizing agent is selected from the group consisting of an X-ray/CT contrast agent, and MRI contrast agent, a fluorescent molecule and a fluorescent protein;
- and
- b) locating said cell surface receptor in said patient or clinical sample by imaging said visualizing agent after said targeting fragment of said toxin has bound to said cell surface receptor.
A method for identifying a cell surface receptor of interest in patients and clinical samples, comprising the steps of
- a) providing to said patients or clinical samples a composition comprising a targeting fragment of a toxin or lectin molecule and a visualizing agent;
- and
- b) locating said cell surface receptor in said patient or clinical sample by imaging said visualizing agent after said targeting fragment of said toxin has bound to said cell surface receptor, wherein said targeting fragment of a toxin or lectin molecule is a B fragment of an A/B type toxin molecule.
A method for identifying a cell surface receptor of interest in patients and clinical samples, comprising the steps of
- a) providing to said patients or clinical samples a composition comprising a targeting fragment of a toxin or lectin molecule and a visualizing agent;
- and
- b) locating said cell surface receptor in said patient or clinical sample by imaging said visualizing agent after said targeting fragment of said toxin has bound to said cell surface receptor, wherein said cell surface receptor is selected from the group consisting of Gb3 GM1, GM2, Gd1b, GT1b, TF antigen, non-reducing terminal galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine, alpha 2-6 sialic acid, and alpha 1-2 fucose containing glycoconjugates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.