Tumor-targeted nanodelivery systems to improve early MRI detection of cancer
AssigneeGeorgetown University
InventorsEsther H. Chang, Kathleen F. Pirollo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is in the fields of drug delivery, cancer treatment and diagnosis and pharmaceuticals. This invention provides a method of making antibody- or antibody fragment-targeted immunoliposomes for the systemic delivery of molecules to treat and image diseases, including cancerous tumors. The invention also provides immunoliposomes and compositions, as well as methods of imaging various tissues. The liposome complexes are useful for encapsulation of imaging agents, for example, for use in magnetic resonance imaging. The specificity of the delivery system is derived from the targeting antibodies or antibody fragments.
Claims27
A method of imaging an organ or a tissue in a patient comprising:
- 1) administering to the patient prior to performing said imaging an antibody- or antibody fragment-targeted cationic immunoliposome complex comprising:
- a) a cationic liposome,
- b) an antibody or antibody fragment which binds to a receptor that is differentially expressed on a target cell, and
- c) an imaging agent,
- wherein said antibody- or antibody fragment-targeted cationic immunoliposome complex was prepared by:
- i) preparing a cationic immunoliposome comprising said antibody or antibody fragment and said cationic liposome, wherein said antibody or antibody fragment is not chemically conjugated to said cationic liposome, and
- ii) mixing said cationic immunoliposome with said imaging agent at a ratio in the range of about 1.0:10 to about 1.0:35 (mg imaging agent:μg liposome);
- and
- 2) imaging said organ or said tissue.
A method of imaging and treating a cancerous tissue in a patient suffering from cancer comprising:
- 1) administering to the patient an antibody- or antibody fragment-targeted cationic immunoliposome complex comprising:
- a) a cationic liposome,
- b) an antibody or antibody fragment which binds to a receptor that is differentially expressed on a cancer cell, and
- c) an imaging agent,
- wherein said antibody-or antibody fragment-targeted cationic immunoliposome complex was prepared by:
- a) preparing a cationic immunoliposome comprising said antibody or antibody fragment and said cationic liposome, wherein said antibody or antibody fragment is not chemically conjugated to said cationic liposome and
- b) mixing said cationic immunoliposome with said imaging agent at a ratio in the range of about 1.0:10 to about 1.0:35 (mg imaging agent:μg liposome);
- 2) imaging said cancerous tissue;
- and
- 3) administering an anti-cancer agent to the patient to treat the cancerous tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.