Near-infrared fluorescent contrast medium
AssigneeKonica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
InventorsNobuaki Kagawa, Takeshi Habu, Eiichi Ueda, Akihisa Nakajima
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Abstract
A near-infrared fluorescing contrast medium which exhibits superior imaging capability and is also difficult to accumulate in a living body, is disclosed, comprising a cyanine compound containing water-solubilizing groups and represented by the following formula. The imaging method by use thereof is also disclosed.
Claims12
A near-infrared fluorescent contrast medium comprising a cyanine compound represented by the following formula (I):
- wherein R is a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or an aromatic group;
- R1 and R2 are each an aliphatic group containing a water-solubilizing group;
- R3 and R4 are each a lower alkyl group or an aromatic group, provided that R3 and R4 may combine with each other to form a carbocyclic ring;
- L1 to L6 are each a methine group, provided that when n is 1 or 2, L6 combine with R3 or R4 to form a carbocyclic ring and when n is 0, L4 may combine with R3 or R4 to form a carbocyclic ring;
- Z1 and Z2 are each a nonmetallic atom group necessary to form a 6-membered ring;
- X is a counter ion necessary to neutralize a charge of the molecule;
- p is the number of X necessary to neutralize a charge of the molecule;
- m is an integer of 2 to 4;
- and n is an integer of 0 to 2.
A method of imaging a targeted portion of a living body comprising the steps of introducing a near-infrared fluorescent contrast medium into the living body;
- exposing the living body to exciting light;
- detecting a near-infrared fluorescence emitted from the near-infrared fluorescent contrast medium;
- and forming the image from the detected near infrared fluorescent emission wherein the near-infrared fluorescent contrast medium comprises a cyanine compound represented by the following formula (I):
- wherein R is a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or an aromatic group;
- R1 and R2 are each an aliphatic group containing a water-solubilizing group;
- R3 and R4 are each a lower alkyl group or an aromatic group, provided that R3 and R4 may combine with each other to from a carbocyclic ring;
- L1 to L6 are each a methine group, provided that when n is 1 or 2, L6 combine with R3 or R4 to from a carbocyclic ring and when n is 0, L4 may combine with R3 or R4 to from a carbocyclic ring;
- Z1 and Z2 are each a nonmetallic atom group necessary to from a 6-membered ring;
- X is a counter ion necessary to neutralize a charge of the molecule;
- p is the number of X necessary to neutralize a charge of the molecule;
- m is an integer of 2 to 4;
- and n is an integer of 0 to 2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.