Lead Inventor:
Stephen O'Brien, Ph.D.
Tech Ventures Reference: IR M05-052; IR M04-007
Iron nanoparticles linked to antibodies through a functionalized phospholipid allow for cell-specific recognition and imaging.
Detecting specific cells and biomolecules (like proteins and nucleic acids) is critical to noninvasive imaging techniques for in vivo diagnostics and therapies. This technology describes a method for creating biocompatible contrast agents, specifically iron oxide antibody conjugates, which can target particular cells or proteins in the body for detection with fluorescence and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A phospholipid coating is capable of encapsulating magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (MIONs), making them water-soluble and physiologically viable. Incorporating additional functionality into the phospholipid coating allows for the attachment of antibodies with cell-specific recognition sites. This creates a versatile contrast agent capable of cell-specific recognition and imaging.
Functionalized phospholipid surface allows for contrast agent with greater ease of fabrication and biocompatibility.
Currently, bioconjugated dextran-coated nanoparticles are used as contrast agents for detecting and imaging cells in vivo. However, these nanoparticles require high levels of purification, are disadvantageously large, and can trigger undesirable immune responses. There is a need for developing contrast agents for in vivo imaging which are biocompatible and easier to prepare. The iron oxide antibody conjugates require far less purification, are smaller in size, and display greater biocompatibility, specifically with respect to immunogenesis.
The preparation and application of these nanoparticle-antibody conjugates has been demonstrated in the lab of Stephen O'Brien at Columbia University.
Applications:
-- Contrast agents for non-invasive, in vivo imaging (MRI and fluorescence)
-- Hyperthermia under an oscillating magnetic field for targeted destruction of cells and proteins
-- Targeted drug delivery by attaching drugs to the phospholipids layer
Advantages:
-- Biocompatible
-- Ease of fabrication
-- Smaller nanoparticle coating
-- High versatility for imaging and/or drug delivery
Patent information: ~ see links below ~
WO/2005/060610
US 2007/0059775
Licensing Status: Available for licensing and sponsored research support
Related Publications:
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Ming Yin, Chun-Kwei Wu, Yongbing Lou, Clemens Burda, Jeffrey T. Koberstein, Yimei Zhu and Stephen O'Brien. Copper Oxide Nanocrystals. JACS. 2005, 127, 9506-9511
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Ming Yin and Stephen O'Brien. Synthesis of Monodisperse Nanocrystals of Manganese Oxides. JACS. 2003, 125, 10180-10181.
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Hultman, K. L.; Raffo, A. J.; Grzenda, A. L.; Harris, P. E.; Brown, T. R.; and O'Brien, S "Immunotargeted Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles" (2007), ACS Nano, 2(3), 477-484, 2008