Sensors for fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsXiao-An Zhang, Alan Pradip Jasanoff, Stephen J. Lippard
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Abstract
The present invention generally relates to agents and compositions having MRI and/or optical signals, and methods for their use in the determination of an analyte. In some cases, an optical, MRI, or other signal produced by the agent or composition may be affected by the presence of an analyte. Some embodiments of the present invention may provide agents or compositions which are cell permeable. Examples of analytes that may be determined by the present invention include zinc ions, calcium ions, and other biological analytes.
Claims22
A method for determining an analyte, comprising:
- providing a MRI or optical agent having the formula,
- wherein:
- A is a group comprising an aryl group, optionally substituted;
- B is a chelator group comprising at least one aromatic heterocycle;
- X1 and X2 can be the same or different and each is a heteroatom;
- L1 and L2 can be the same or different and each is a group comprising an alkyl or heteroalkyl group, optionally substituted;
- and
- Q1 and Q2 can be the same or different and each is a group comprising a binding moiety for an analyte;
- exposing the agent to a sample suspected of containing an analyte, wherein the agent interacts with the analyte, if present, to generate an analyte-bound MRI signal or optical signal that is shifted relative to the MRI signal or optical signal absent the analyte;
- and
- determining the shift in the MRI signal or an optical signal of the agent, or lack thereof, thereby determining the presence and/or amount of the analyte in the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.