US20050031543A1 - Contrast agents - Google Patents

Contrast agents Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20050031543A1
US20050031543A1 US10/820,428 US82042804A US2005031543A1 US 20050031543 A1 US20050031543 A1 US 20050031543A1 US 82042804 A US82042804 A US 82042804A US 2005031543 A1 US2005031543 A1 US 2005031543A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
surfactant
contrast
carbohydrate
administration
before use
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/820,428
Inventor
Jo Klaveness
Pal Rongved
Lars Stubberud
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GE Healthcare AS
Original Assignee
Amersham Health AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=10708317&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=US20050031543(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Amersham Health AS filed Critical Amersham Health AS
Priority to US10/820,428 priority Critical patent/US20050031543A1/en
Priority to US11/055,544 priority patent/US20050196342A1/en
Publication of US20050031543A1 publication Critical patent/US20050031543A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/06—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations
    • A61K49/18—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, microcapsules, liposomes
    • A61K49/1818—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, microcapsules, liposomes particles, e.g. uncoated or non-functionalised microparticles or nanoparticles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/06—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations
    • A61K49/18—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, microcapsules, liposomes
    • A61K49/1818—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, microcapsules, liposomes particles, e.g. uncoated or non-functionalised microparticles or nanoparticles
    • A61K49/1821—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, microcapsules, liposomes particles, e.g. uncoated or non-functionalised microparticles or nanoparticles coated or functionalised microparticles or nanoparticles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/22—Echographic preparations; Ultrasound imaging preparations ; Optoacoustic imaging preparations
    • A61K49/222—Echographic preparations; Ultrasound imaging preparations ; Optoacoustic imaging preparations characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, liposomes
    • A61K49/223—Microbubbles, hollow microspheres, free gas bubbles, gas microspheres
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/22—Echographic preparations; Ultrasound imaging preparations ; Optoacoustic imaging preparations
    • A61K49/222—Echographic preparations; Ultrasound imaging preparations ; Optoacoustic imaging preparations characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, liposomes
    • A61K49/225—Microparticles, microcapsules

Definitions

  • This invention relates to novel contrast agents, more particularly to new microparticulate contrast agents of use in diagnostic imaging.
  • ultrasonic imaging comprises a potentially valuable diagnostic tool, for example in studies of the vascular system, particularly in cardiography, and of tissue microvasculature.
  • a variety of contrast agents has been proposed to enhance the acoustic images so obtained, including suspensions of solid particles, emulsified liquid droplets, gas microbubbles and encapsulated gases or liquids. It is generally accepted that low density contrast agents which are easily compressible are particularly efficient in terms of the acoustic backscatter they generate, and considerable interest has therefore been shown in the preparation of gas-containing and gas-generating systems.
  • DE-A-3834705 proposes the use of suspensions containing microparticles of mixtures of at least one C 10-20 fatty acid with at least one non-surface active substance, including sugars such as cyclodextrins, monosaccharides, disaccharides or trisaccharides, as well as other polyols and inorganic and organic salts; in practice only the use of galactose as the non-surface active material and only the use of saturated fatty acids are exemplified.
  • the microparticulate materials are typically prepared by coprecipitating the fatty acid and non-surface active substance and comminuting the resulting product, e.g. using an air-jet mill.
  • Gas-containing contrast media are also known to be effective in magnetic resonance. (MR) imaging, e.g. as susceptibility contrast agents which will act to reduce MR signal intensity oxygen-containing contrast media also represent potentially useful paramagnetic MR contrast agents.
  • MR magnetic resonance.
  • gases such as carbon dioxide may be used as negative oral contrast agents.
  • a general disadvantage of most of the existing gas-containing/gas-generating particulate contrast agents such as the sugar-based agents discussed above is their relative lack of stability in vivo. This is a particular problem in applications such as echocardiography, where there is a need for improved contrast agents combining sufficient stability and small microbubble size (typically less than about 10 ⁇ m, preferably less than about 7 ⁇ m) to permit passage through the pulmonary capillary bed and so allow enhanced visualisation of the left side of the heart, preferably for more than one passage of circulation. There is accordingly a need for contrast agents which generate microbubble systems exhibiting good stability while still providing an effective level of contrast efficiency.
  • contrast agents comprising microparticles of a carbohydrate having a surfactant admixed therewith (but excluding the previously disclosed mixtures of galactose and saturated C 10-20 fatty acids) may be used to generate microbubble systems exhibiting enhanced contrast effect and/or stability relative to previously proposed carbohydrate-based contrast agents.
  • this may be demonstrated by, for example, in vitro measurements of initial attenuation levels and the half lives of the attenuative effect; a useful indication of the combined effect of these properties is the integral obtained by determining the area under the curve of a plot of attenuation against time.
  • surfactant means any compound having amphiphilic properties capable of modifying surface tension.
  • contrast agents comprising microbubble-generating carbohydrate microparticles having a surfactant admixed within the microparticulate structure, with the proviso that the surfactant is not-a saturated C 10-20 fatty acid when the microparticulate carbohydrate is galactose.
  • the microparticulate carbohydrate is preferably water soluble, and subject to the foregoing proviso may for example be selected from hexoses such as glucose, fructose or galactose; disaccharides such as sucrose, lactose or maltose; pentoses such as arabinose, xylose or ribose; and polysaccharides such as ⁇ -, ⁇ - and ⁇ -cyclodextrins, maltodextrin and glycogen; the term “carbohydrate” as used herein is also intended to embrace sugar alcohols, e.g. alditols such as mannitol or sorbitol.
  • Microparticles of the above carbohydrates will normally have gas present as an inclusion in the voids of their crystal structure and/or adhered to their surface, which gas may generate microbubbles when, for example, the microparticles are suspended or dissolved in an injectable carrier liquid, for example water for injection, an aqueous solution of one or more inorganic salts (e.g. physiological saline-or a physiological buffer solution), an aqueous solution of a monosaccharide (e.g. glucose or galactose) or disaccharide (e.g. lactose), or an aqueous solution of a physiologically tolerable monohydric or polyhydric alcohol (e.g. ethanol, propanol., isopropanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerine or polyethylene glycol).
  • an injectable carrier liquid for example water for injection, an aqueous solution of one or more inorganic salts (e.g. physiological saline-or a physiological
  • any biocompatible gas may be employed in the contrast agents of the invention, for example nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, helium, argon, sulphur hexafluoride and low molecular weight optionally fluorinated hydrocarbons such as methane, acetylene or carbon tetrafluoride.
  • gas as used herein includes any substance in the gaseous form at 37° C. The gas may be contained in the contrast agent in such a way that before use the product is non-contrast giving but becomes-effective on administration, e.g. as a result of the gas forming microbubbles as a soluble carbohydrate matrix dissolves.
  • the carbohydrate may incorporate one or more gas precursors, including carbonates and bicarbonates (e.g. sodium or ammonium bicarbonate) and aminomalonate esters.
  • gas precursors including carbonates and bicarbonates (e.g. sodium or ammonium bicarbonate) and aminomalonate esters.
  • surfactants may be used in the ultrasound contrast agents of the invention; it will of course be appreciated that the surfactant is required to be biocompatible, i.e. that it should be physiologically tolerable in the quantities in which it is to be administered.
  • the surfactant is advantageously biodegradable in vivo or otherwise readily eliminable from the system.
  • the surfactant may, for example, be an amphiphilic lipid, e.g. selected from fatty acids and salts (e.g. alkali metal salts) thereof, steroid acids, sterols, phospholipids and glycolipids.
  • lipids include high molecular weight (e.g. C 10-50 ) straight chain saturated and unsaturated aliphatic acids, such as capric, palmitic, hexadecanedioic, stearic, linolenic, behenic, docosanedioic and melissic acids; aralkanoic acids, e.g. phenyl lower alkanoic acids such as.
  • 2-phenylbutyric acid salts of any of the foregoing acids; mono- and di-glycerides, for example glyceryl esters of high molecular weight (e.g. C 10-50 ) aliphatic acids, such as glyceryl monolaurate; cholanic acids such as 50-cholanic acid; cholesterol; sorbitan esters of fatty acids such as Span-type materials; high molecular weight (e.g. C 10-50 ) straight chain aliphatic alcohols such as stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol; phospholipids such as phosphatidyl choline (lecithin) and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE); and mixtures thereof.
  • mono- and di-glycerides for example glyceryl esters of high molecular weight (e.g. C 10-50 ) aliphatic acids, such as glyceryl monolaurate; cholanic acids such as 50-cholanic acid
  • surfactants which may be employed include anionic surfactants, for example alkali metal alkyl sulphates such as sodium lauryl sulphate and sulphonated esters such as sodium dioctyl sulphosuccinate (docusate); and non-ionic surfactants, for example polyoxyethylene-polyoxyproplyene copolymers (e.g. poloxamers such as Pluronic F68) and polyoxyethylated sorbitan esters (e.g. polysorbates such as Tween-type materials).
  • the surfactant moiety may if desired be covalently linked to a substrate such as a carbohydrate prior to its admixture with the principal microparticulate carbohydrate.
  • a fatty acid such as palmitic acid (preferably in the form of a reactive derivative such as a corresponding acyl halide) may be used to esterify a (preferably appropriately O-protected) sugar such as galactose and the resulting lipophilically modified carbohydrate used as the 0.20 surfactant in accordance with the invention.
  • the surfactant may, for example, be present in an amount of 0.01-5.0 wt. %, preferably 0.1-2.0 wt. %, relative to the microparticulate carbohydrate.
  • the contrast agents of the invention may be used in a variety of diagnostic imaging techniques, including ultrasound, MR and X-ray imaging. Their uses in diagnostic ultrasonic imaging and MR imaging, e.g. as susceptibility contrast agents, constitute preferred features of the invention.
  • contrast agents of the invention may be prepared by any convenient method which leads to physical admixture of the surfactant within the microparticulate structure of the carbohydrate and to production of microparticles of the desired size.
  • the carbohydrate and the surfactant are each dissolved in appropriate mutually miscible solvents (e.g. water in the case or the carbohydrate and a lower alkanol such as ethanol in the case of lipid surfactants such as fatty acids), the resulting solutions are mixed, the solvents are removed (e.g. by evaporation under reduced pressure), and the resulting solid mixture is micronised to yield the desired microparticles.
  • appropriate mutually miscible solvents e.g. water in the case or the carbohydrate and a lower alkanol such as ethanol in the case of lipid surfactants such as fatty acids
  • a (preferably aqueous) solution of the carbohydrate is mixed with a liposome-forming material (e.g. a thin film of a lipid such as lecithin formed on the inner surface of the mixing vessel by evaporating the solvent from a solution of the lipid in an appropriate organic solvent, for example a chlorinated hydrocarbon such as chloroform) so as to form a liposome-containing carbohydrate solution from which the solvent may be removed (e.g. by freeze-drying) to yield a product comprising carbohydrate-containing liposomes; this product may be micronised to given microparticles of the desired size.
  • a liposome-forming material e.g. a thin film of a lipid such as lecithin formed on the inner surface of the mixing vessel by evaporating the solvent from a solution of the lipid in an appropriate organic solvent, for example a chlorinated hydrocarbon such as chloroform
  • micronisation techniques such as grinding or milling may be employed in processes according to the invention.
  • Ball-milling of the solid mixture has been found to be particularly advantageous, permitting the preparation of microparticles in the form of aggregates (for example having an aggregate size of 20-125 micrometres, such as 30-50 micrometres) of particles having a particle size of, for example, 1-50 micrometres, such as 1-10 micrometres.
  • aggregates will tend to contain a substantial volume of air adsorbed on their surfaces and entrained in voids such as interparticle cavities or at grain boundaries between the crystallites.
  • the particle size may, for example, be selected to be substantially commensurate with the desired microbubble size.
  • microbubbles and microparticles having an average size of 0.1-10 ⁇ m e.g. 1-7 ⁇ m
  • the use of microparticles of average size 1-4 ⁇ m to generate microbubbles with an average size of 4-7 ⁇ m is generally advantageous.
  • Substantially larger bubbles and particles, e.g. with average sizes up to 500 ⁇ m, may however be useful in other applications, for example gastrointestinal imaging.
  • Ultrasound contrast agents in the form of microparticles comprising a microbubble-generating carbohydrate in admixture with an amphiphilic organic acid containing in excess of 20 carbon atoms are the subject matter of our international patent application cofiled herewith and claiming priority from British patent application No. 9200387.0.
  • D-(+)-galactose (10.0 g) was dissolved in distilled water (14.2 g) at 50° C., sterile filtered and cooled on ice to a temperature of 4-8° C.
  • the stated amounts of the surfactants (in % w/w relative to the galactose) listed in Table I were each dissolved in the amount of 96% ethanol (or water in Examples 5 and 6) shown in the Table, at 50-78° C., and the resulting solution was sterile filtered and then aseptically added to the cold aqueous galactose solution under stirring.
  • 1,2,3,4-Diisopropylidene-D-galactopyranose (Sigma, 13.4 g, 51.3 mmol) and triethylamine (7.15 ml, 51.3 mmol) were dissolved in methylene chloride (150 ml) and cooled to 0° C. Palmitoyl chloride (Aldrich, 14.1 g, 51.3 mmol) dissolved in methylene chloride (100 ml) was added dropwise with: stirring over 1 h. The cooling bath was removed and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight.
  • 6-O-Palmitoyl-1,2,3,4-diisopropylidene-D-galactopyranose (6 g) was dissolved in acetic acid (25 ml) and heated to 100° C. under nitrogen for 6 h. During subsequent cooling to room temperature, the product precipitated from the solvent, and was left at room temperature overnight. The crystals were collected by filtration and dried under vacuum. Yield: 3.3 g.
  • the product was characterized by FT-IR:CO-1734 cm ⁇ 1 ; OH-3464 cm 1 .
  • phosphatidylcholine 1 ml 100 mg/ml phosphatidylcholine was dissolved in 10 ml chloroform. The mixture was poured into a round bottom flask, and the organic phase was evaporated at 40° C. in such a way that a thin film of the phosphatidylcholine was formed on the inner surface of the flask. 10 ml of a sterile, pyrogen free 40% aqueous D-(+)-galactose solution was then added at 40° C. and the flask was kept rotating for 1 hour.
  • aqueous solution containing liposomes and dissolved galactose was then freeze-dried for 24 hours, and the resulting product consisting of freeze-dried-galactose and freeze-0.5 dried galactose-filled liposomes was then ground in a ball-mill to yield a product with a particle size distribution of 1-20 ⁇ m.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Nanotechnology (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Antibodies Or Antigens For Use As Internal Diagnostic Agents (AREA)
  • Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
  • Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)
  • Organic Insulating Materials (AREA)

Abstract

Contrast agents comprising microbubble-generating carbohydrate microparticles having a surfactant admixed within the microparticulate structure, with the proviso that the surfactant is not a C10-20 fatty acid, are disclosed. Processes for preparing contrast agents also are disclosed.

Description

  • This invention relates to novel contrast agents, more particularly to new microparticulate contrast agents of use in diagnostic imaging.
  • It is well known that ultrasonic imaging comprises a potentially valuable diagnostic tool, for example in studies of the vascular system, particularly in cardiography, and of tissue microvasculature. A variety of contrast agents has been proposed to enhance the acoustic images so obtained, including suspensions of solid particles, emulsified liquid droplets, gas microbubbles and encapsulated gases or liquids. It is generally accepted that low density contrast agents which are easily compressible are particularly efficient in terms of the acoustic backscatter they generate, and considerable interest has therefore been shown in the preparation of gas-containing and gas-generating systems.
  • Initial studies involving free gas microbubbles generated in vivo by intracardiac injection of physiologically acceptable substances have demonstrated the potential efficiency of such bubbles as contrast agents in echocardiography; such techniques are severely limited in practice, however, by the short lifetime of the free bubbles. Interest has accordingly been shown in methods of generating and/or stabilising gas microbubbles for echocardiography and other ultrasonic studies, for example using emulsifiers, oils, thickeners or sugars.
  • Techniques involving the use of sugars in ultrasound contrast agents are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,119, U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,843 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,756, which disclose the use of particulate solids having a plurality of gas-filled voids and preferably also a plurality, of nuclei for microbubble formation. EP-A-0123235 and EP-A-0122624 suggest ultrasound contrast agents consisting of surfactant-coated or surfactant-containing gas-containing microparticles which may include a variety of sugars. Where surfactant-containing microparticles are described, these are prepared simply by commingling the surfactant with the microparticulate materials, e.g. by trituration.
  • DE-A-3834705 proposes the use of suspensions containing microparticles of mixtures of at least one C10-20 fatty acid with at least one non-surface active substance, including sugars such as cyclodextrins, monosaccharides, disaccharides or trisaccharides, as well as other polyols and inorganic and organic salts; in practice only the use of galactose as the non-surface active material and only the use of saturated fatty acids are exemplified. The microparticulate materials are typically prepared by coprecipitating the fatty acid and non-surface active substance and comminuting the resulting product, e.g. using an air-jet mill.
  • One material of, the type described in DE-A-3834705, SHU 508 (Levovist 6), is described in the following publications: Schlief, R. et al., Circulation Supplement III (1990) 82, p. 28; Schartl, M. et al., Circulation Supplement III (1990) 82, p. 261; Fritzsch, T. et al., Invest. Radiol. (1990) 25 (Suppl), pp. 160-161; Schlief, R. et al., Echocardiography (1990) 7, pp. 61-64; Loughery, E. J. et al., Echocardiography (1990) 7, pp. 279-292; and Smith, M. D. et al., JACC (1989) 13, pp. 1622-1628.
  • Gas-containing contrast media are also known to be effective in magnetic resonance. (MR) imaging, e.g. as susceptibility contrast agents which will act to reduce MR signal intensity oxygen-containing contrast media also represent potentially useful paramagnetic MR contrast agents.
  • Furthermore, in the field of X-ray imaging it has been observed that gases such as carbon dioxide may be used as negative oral contrast agents.
  • A general disadvantage of most of the existing gas-containing/gas-generating particulate contrast agents such as the sugar-based agents discussed above is their relative lack of stability in vivo. This is a particular problem in applications such as echocardiography, where there is a need for improved contrast agents combining sufficient stability and small microbubble size (typically less than about 10 μm, preferably less than about 7 μm) to permit passage through the pulmonary capillary bed and so allow enhanced visualisation of the left side of the heart, preferably for more than one passage of circulation. There is accordingly a need for contrast agents which generate microbubble systems exhibiting good stability while still providing an effective level of contrast efficiency.
  • The present invention is based on our finding that contrast agents comprising microparticles of a carbohydrate having a surfactant admixed therewith (but excluding the previously disclosed mixtures of galactose and saturated C10-20 fatty acids) may be used to generate microbubble systems exhibiting enhanced contrast effect and/or stability relative to previously proposed carbohydrate-based contrast agents. In the ultrasound field this may be demonstrated by, for example, in vitro measurements of initial attenuation levels and the half lives of the attenuative effect; a useful indication of the combined effect of these properties is the integral obtained by determining the area under the curve of a plot of attenuation against time.
  • The term “surfactant” as used herein means any compound having amphiphilic properties capable of modifying surface tension.
  • Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention, there are provided contrast agents comprising microbubble-generating carbohydrate microparticles having a surfactant admixed within the microparticulate structure, with the proviso that the surfactant is not-a saturated C10-20 fatty acid when the microparticulate carbohydrate is galactose.
  • The microparticulate carbohydrate is preferably water soluble, and subject to the foregoing proviso may for example be selected from hexoses such as glucose, fructose or galactose; disaccharides such as sucrose, lactose or maltose; pentoses such as arabinose, xylose or ribose; and polysaccharides such as α-, β- and δ-cyclodextrins, maltodextrin and glycogen; the term “carbohydrate” as used herein is also intended to embrace sugar alcohols, e.g. alditols such as mannitol or sorbitol. Microparticles of the above carbohydrates will normally have gas present as an inclusion in the voids of their crystal structure and/or adhered to their surface, which gas may generate microbubbles when, for example, the microparticles are suspended or dissolved in an injectable carrier liquid, for example water for injection, an aqueous solution of one or more inorganic salts (e.g. physiological saline-or a physiological buffer solution), an aqueous solution of a monosaccharide (e.g. glucose or galactose) or disaccharide (e.g. lactose), or an aqueous solution of a physiologically tolerable monohydric or polyhydric alcohol (e.g. ethanol, propanol., isopropanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerine or polyethylene glycol).
  • In addition to or alternatively to air, any biocompatible gas may be employed in the contrast agents of the invention, for example nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, helium, argon, sulphur hexafluoride and low molecular weight optionally fluorinated hydrocarbons such as methane, acetylene or carbon tetrafluoride. The term “gas” as used herein includes any substance in the gaseous form at 37° C. The gas may be contained in the contrast agent in such a way that before use the product is non-contrast giving but becomes-effective on administration, e.g. as a result of the gas forming microbubbles as a soluble carbohydrate matrix dissolves.
  • Additionally or alternatively the carbohydrate may incorporate one or more gas precursors, including carbonates and bicarbonates (e.g. sodium or ammonium bicarbonate) and aminomalonate esters.
  • Subject to the foregoing proviso a wide variety of surfactants may be used in the ultrasound contrast agents of the invention; it will of course be appreciated that the surfactant is required to be biocompatible, i.e. that it should be physiologically tolerable in the quantities in which it is to be administered. The surfactant is advantageously biodegradable in vivo or otherwise readily eliminable from the system.
  • The surfactant may, for example, be an amphiphilic lipid, e.g. selected from fatty acids and salts (e.g. alkali metal salts) thereof, steroid acids, sterols, phospholipids and glycolipids. Such lipids include high molecular weight (e.g. C10-50) straight chain saturated and unsaturated aliphatic acids, such as capric, palmitic, hexadecanedioic, stearic, linolenic, behenic, docosanedioic and melissic acids; aralkanoic acids, e.g. phenyl lower alkanoic acids such as. 2-phenylbutyric acid; salts of any of the foregoing acids; mono- and di-glycerides, for example glyceryl esters of high molecular weight (e.g. C10-50) aliphatic acids, such as glyceryl monolaurate; cholanic acids such as 50-cholanic acid; cholesterol; sorbitan esters of fatty acids such as Span-type materials; high molecular weight (e.g. C10-50) straight chain aliphatic alcohols such as stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol; phospholipids such as phosphatidyl choline (lecithin) and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE); and mixtures thereof.
  • Other surfactants which may be employed include anionic surfactants, for example alkali metal alkyl sulphates such as sodium lauryl sulphate and sulphonated esters such as sodium dioctyl sulphosuccinate (docusate); and non-ionic surfactants, for example polyoxyethylene-polyoxyproplyene copolymers (e.g. poloxamers such as Pluronic F68) and polyoxyethylated sorbitan esters (e.g. polysorbates such as Tween-type materials).
  • The surfactant moiety may if desired be covalently linked to a substrate such as a carbohydrate prior to its admixture with the principal microparticulate carbohydrate. Thus, for example, a fatty acid such as palmitic acid (preferably in the form of a reactive derivative such as a corresponding acyl halide) may be used to esterify a (preferably appropriately O-protected) sugar such as galactose and the resulting lipophilically modified carbohydrate used as the 0.20 surfactant in accordance with the invention.
  • The surfactant may, for example, be present in an amount of 0.01-5.0 wt. %, preferably 0.1-2.0 wt. %, relative to the microparticulate carbohydrate.
  • The contrast agents of the invention may be used in a variety of diagnostic imaging techniques, including ultrasound, MR and X-ray imaging. Their uses in diagnostic ultrasonic imaging and MR imaging, e.g. as susceptibility contrast agents, constitute preferred features of the invention.
  • The contrast agents of the invention may be prepared by any convenient method which leads to physical admixture of the surfactant within the microparticulate structure of the carbohydrate and to production of microparticles of the desired size.
  • In one preferred method according to the invention the carbohydrate and the surfactant are each dissolved in appropriate mutually miscible solvents (e.g. water in the case or the carbohydrate and a lower alkanol such as ethanol in the case of lipid surfactants such as fatty acids), the resulting solutions are mixed, the solvents are removed (e.g. by evaporation under reduced pressure), and the resulting solid mixture is micronised to yield the desired microparticles. It will be appreciated that all such operations should be effected under sterile conditions.
  • In an alternative method according to the invention a (preferably aqueous) solution of the carbohydrate is mixed with a liposome-forming material (e.g. a thin film of a lipid such as lecithin formed on the inner surface of the mixing vessel by evaporating the solvent from a solution of the lipid in an appropriate organic solvent, for example a chlorinated hydrocarbon such as chloroform) so as to form a liposome-containing carbohydrate solution from which the solvent may be removed (e.g. by freeze-drying) to yield a product comprising carbohydrate-containing liposomes; this product may be micronised to given microparticles of the desired size.
  • In general conventional micronisation techniques such as grinding or milling may be employed in processes according to the invention. Ball-milling of the solid mixture has been found to be particularly advantageous, permitting the preparation of microparticles in the form of aggregates (for example having an aggregate size of 20-125 micrometres, such as 30-50 micrometres) of particles having a particle size of, for example, 1-50 micrometres, such as 1-10 micrometres. Such aggregates will tend to contain a substantial volume of air adsorbed on their surfaces and entrained in voids such as interparticle cavities or at grain boundaries between the crystallites. The particle size may, for example, be selected to be substantially commensurate with the desired microbubble size. In ultrasonic applications such as echocardiography, in order to permit free passage through the pulmonary system and to achieve resonance with the preferred imaging frequencies of about 0.1-15 MHz, it may be convenient to employ microbubbles and microparticles having an average size of 0.1-10 μm, e.g. 1-7 μm; the use of microparticles of average size 1-4 μm to generate microbubbles with an average size of 4-7 μm is generally advantageous. Substantially larger bubbles and particles, e.g. with average sizes up to 500 μm, may however be useful in other applications, for example gastrointestinal imaging.
  • Ultrasound contrast agents in the form of microparticles comprising a microbubble-generating carbohydrate in admixture with an amphiphilic organic acid containing in excess of 20 carbon atoms are the subject matter of our international patent application cofiled herewith and claiming priority from British patent application No. 9200387.0.
  • The following non-limitative Examples serve to illustrate the invention:—
    • EXAMPLES 1-18
  • General Procedure
  • D-(+)-galactose (10.0 g) was dissolved in distilled water (14.2 g) at 50° C., sterile filtered and cooled on ice to a temperature of 4-8° C. The stated amounts of the surfactants (in % w/w relative to the galactose) listed in Table I were each dissolved in the amount of 96% ethanol (or water in Examples 5 and 6) shown in the Table, at 50-78° C., and the resulting solution was sterile filtered and then aseptically added to the cold aqueous galactose solution under stirring. The resulting mixture was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure (10 torr, 40° C.), and the resulting solid product was dried in a desiccator overnight and then ground for 10 minutes under aseptic conditions in a stainless steel ball mill having a 50 ml grinding cup and 3×20 mm balls (fetsch centrifugal ball mill, S1) The ground product was dried in a desiccator for 24 hours.
    TABLE I
    Amount of
    Amount of ethanol
    Example Surfactant (or water)
    No. Surfactant (% w/w) (g)
    1 Lecithin 1.0 1.2
    2 ″ 0.2 1.2
    3 Sodium Lauryl Sulphate 1.0 1.0 (water)
    4 ″ 0.1 1.0 (water)
    5 Span 80 1.0 1.2
    6 ″ 0.1 1.2
    7 Span 85 1.0 1.2
    8 ″ 0.1 1.2
    9 Pluronic F68 1.0 1.2
    10 ″ 0.1 1.2
    11 Sodium Docusate 1.0 1.2
    12 ″ 0.1 1.2
    13 DOPE 1.0 1.2
    14 ″ 0.1 1.2
    15 α-Glyceryl Monolaurate 0.2 3.2
    Glyceryl Tripalmitate 0.2
    Cholesterol 0.2
    Cholesterol Acetate 0.2
    Cholesterol Benzoate 0.2
    16 α-Glyceryl Monolaurate 0.02 1.2
    Glyceryl Tripalmitate 0.02
    Cholesterol 0.02
    Cholesterol Acetate 0.02
    Cholesterol Benzoate 0.02
    17 Hexadecanedioic Acid 0.2 1.2
    18 Linolenic Acid 1.0 1.2
    • EXAMPLES 19-22
  • The general procedure for Examples 1-18 was repeated except that the D-(+)-galactose was replaced by the carbohydrates listed in Table II, in the amounts and using the quantities of water shown, and that the surfactant used was palmitic acid (0.2% w/w relative to the carbohydrate) dissolved in 96% ethanol (1.2 g).
    TABLE II
    Amount of Amount of
    Example Microbubble-generating Carbohydrate water
    No. Carbohydrate (g) (g)
    19 Xylose (BDH) 10.0 14.2
    20 Maltodextrin 10.0 14.2
    21 Glycogen (Merck) 5.0 17.2
    22 α-Cyclodextrin (Sigma) 5.0 12.2
    • EXAMPLE 23
  • 6-O-Palmitoyl-b-galactopyranose/Galactose Mixtures
  • (A) 6-O-Palmitoyl-1,2,3,4-diisopropylidene-D-galactopyranose
  • 1,2,3,4-Diisopropylidene-D-galactopyranose (Sigma, 13.4 g, 51.3 mmol) and triethylamine (7.15 ml, 51.3 mmol) were dissolved in methylene chloride (150 ml) and cooled to 0° C. Palmitoyl chloride (Aldrich, 14.1 g, 51.3 mmol) dissolved in methylene chloride (100 ml) was added dropwise with: stirring over 1 h. The cooling bath was removed and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight. Precipitated triethylamine hydrochloride was removed by filtration, the filtrate was transferred to a separating funnel and extracted with water (3×50 ml), dried over MgSO4 and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was a light brownish oil which solidified to waxy crystals. Crude yield: 23 g. The crude product was used without further purification. A small aliquot was recrystallized for characterisation. FT-IR:CO-1734 cm−1. 13C-NMR: CO-ester 172.79. Mp. 124-127° C.
  • (B) 6-O-Palmitoyl-D-galactopyranose
  • 6-O-Palmitoyl-1,2,3,4-diisopropylidene-D-galactopyranose (6 g) was dissolved in acetic acid (25 ml) and heated to 100° C. under nitrogen for 6 h. During subsequent cooling to room temperature, the product precipitated from the solvent, and was left at room temperature overnight. The crystals were collected by filtration and dried under vacuum. Yield: 3.3 g. The product was characterized by FT-IR:CO-1734 cm−1; OH-3464 cm1.
  • (C) 6-O-Palmitoyl-D-galactopyranose/Galactose Mixtures
  • (i) D-(+)-galactose (2 g) was dissolved in purified water (2.87 g) and sterile filtered. 6-O-Palmitoyl-D-galactopyranose (0.25 g) prepared as described in (B) above was dissolved in ethanol (3 g) and sterile filtered. The solution of the palmitoyl-galactopyranose was added to the galactose solution under stirring and the whole mixture was taken to dryness under vacuum (10 torr, 50° C.). The product was dried in a desiccator overnight.
  • (ii) The procedure of (i) was repeated using 6-O-palmitoyl-D-galactopyranose (0.50 g) dissolved in ethanol (6 g).
    • EXAMPLE 24
  • Freeze-Dried Liposomes Containing D-(+)-Galactose Particles
  • 1 ml 100 mg/ml phosphatidylcholine was dissolved in 10 ml chloroform. The mixture was poured into a round bottom flask, and the organic phase was evaporated at 40° C. in such a way that a thin film of the phosphatidylcholine was formed on the inner surface of the flask. 10 ml of a sterile, pyrogen free 40% aqueous D-(+)-galactose solution was then added at 40° C. and the flask was kept rotating for 1 hour. The aqueous solution containing liposomes and dissolved galactose was then freeze-dried for 24 hours, and the resulting product consisting of freeze-dried-galactose and freeze-0.5 dried galactose-filled liposomes was then ground in a ball-mill to yield a product with a particle size distribution of 1-20 μm.
    • EXAMPLE 25
  • Echogenicity In Vitro
  • 10 ml of propylene glycol mixed with 90 ml of 5% dextrose in water was used as a carrier liquid for determining the echogenicity of products according to the Examples. 11.0 g of each product to be tested was dispersed in 3.0 ml of the carrier liquid and shaken for seconds. The resulting mixture was added to 52 ml of 5% human serum albumin infusion solution in the measurement cell and the acoustic effects of the products were investigated by measuring the acoustic transmission through the samples using a 5 MHz broadband transducer in a pulse-reflection technique. The temperature in the measurement cell was stabilised to 37° C. and circulation of the liquid was maintained by means of stirring at a constant rate. Ultrasound transmission through the samples was measured as a function of time over a duration of 390 seconds. Results were normalized to measurements on a reference consisting of 55 ml of 5% human serum albumin infusion solution.
  • Results for representative exemplified products and comparative results for unmodified milled D-(+)-galactose are shown in the accompanying drawing as FIG. 1 it will be apparent that these products exhibit a strong effect on ultrasonic attenuation in vitro, an effect which persisted for several minutes.

Claims (16)

1-13. (canceled).
14. The method of generating an enhanced echocardiographic image of a human or non-human body comprising: administering into the pulmonary system of said body an echocardiographic contrast enhancing amount of a contrast agent comprising gasmicrobubble-generating aggregates of microparticles; applying to a part of said body ultrasound at a frequency of 0.1 to 15 MHZ; and generating said image; said microparticles comprising a water soluble matrix material and a surfactant, the microbubbles generated by said aggregates comprising SF6 or a fluorinated low molecular weight hydrocarbon, said aggregates being 20-125 μm in size and said microparticles having an average size of 0.1 to 50 μm.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14 in which the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of straight chain aliphatic carboxylic acids and salts, sorbitan esters and mono- and di-glycerides thereof; aralkanoic acids and the salts thereof; steroid acids; sterols; straight chain aliphatic alcohols; phospholipids; alkali metal alkyl sulphates and sulphonated esters; polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymers; polyoxyethylated sorbitan esters; and mixtures of any of the foregoing.
16. The method as claimed in claim 14 in which the surfactant comprises a lipophilically modified carbohydrate.
17. The method as claimed in claim 14 in which the surfactant is present in an amount of 0.1-2.0% w/w relative to the water soluble matrix.
18. The method as claimed in claim 14 for which the microbubbles generated by said aggregates contain air in admixture with said SF6 or fluorinated hydrocarbon.
19. The method as claimed in claim 14 for which the microbubbles generated by said aggregates comprise carbon tetrafluoride.
20. The method as claimed in claim 14 in which the water soluble matrix is a carbohydrate.
21. The method as claimed in claim 20 in which the carbohydrate is a polysaccharide.
22. The method as claimed in claim 20 in which the carbohydrate is a sugar alcohol.
23. The method as claimed in claim 14 which is non-contrast giving before use, but which becomes effective on administration.
24. The method as claimed in claim 15 which is non-contrast giving before use, but which becomes effective on administration.
25. The method as claimed in claim 16 which is non-contrast giving before use, but which becomes effective on administration.
26. The method as claimed in claim 17 which is non-contrast giving before use, but which becomes effective on administration.
27. The method as claimed in claim 18 which is non-contrast giving before use, but which becomes effective on administration.
28. The method as claimed in claim 19 which is non-contrast giving before use, but which becomes effective on administration.
US10/820,428 1992-01-09 2004-04-07 Contrast agents Abandoned US20050031543A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/820,428 US20050031543A1 (en) 1992-01-09 2004-04-07 Contrast agents
US11/055,544 US20050196342A1 (en) 1992-01-09 2005-02-10 Contrast agents

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9200388.8 1992-01-09
GB929200388A GB9200388D0 (en) 1992-01-09 1992-01-09 Improvements in or relating to contrast agents
US08/256,149 US5558856A (en) 1992-01-09 1993-01-08 Microbubble-generating contrast agents for ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging
US08/478,037 US5827502A (en) 1992-01-09 1995-06-07 Microparticulate microbubble-generating contrast agents
US93916597A 1997-09-29 1997-09-29
US23135199A 1999-01-13 1999-01-13
US10/072,655 US20030059373A1 (en) 1992-01-09 2002-02-08 Contrast agents
US63541503A 2003-08-06 2003-08-06
US10/820,428 US20050031543A1 (en) 1992-01-09 2004-04-07 Contrast agents

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US63541503A Continuation 1992-01-09 2003-08-06

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/055,544 Continuation US20050196342A1 (en) 1992-01-09 2005-02-10 Contrast agents

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20050031543A1 true US20050031543A1 (en) 2005-02-10

Family

ID=10708317

Family Applications (5)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US08/256,149 Expired - Lifetime US5558856A (en) 1992-01-09 1993-01-08 Microbubble-generating contrast agents for ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging
US08/478,037 Expired - Fee Related US5827502A (en) 1992-01-09 1995-06-07 Microparticulate microbubble-generating contrast agents
US10/072,655 Abandoned US20030059373A1 (en) 1992-01-09 2002-02-08 Contrast agents
US10/820,428 Abandoned US20050031543A1 (en) 1992-01-09 2004-04-07 Contrast agents
US11/055,544 Abandoned US20050196342A1 (en) 1992-01-09 2005-02-10 Contrast agents

Family Applications Before (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US08/256,149 Expired - Lifetime US5558856A (en) 1992-01-09 1993-01-08 Microbubble-generating contrast agents for ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging
US08/478,037 Expired - Fee Related US5827502A (en) 1992-01-09 1995-06-07 Microparticulate microbubble-generating contrast agents
US10/072,655 Abandoned US20030059373A1 (en) 1992-01-09 2002-02-08 Contrast agents

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/055,544 Abandoned US20050196342A1 (en) 1992-01-09 2005-02-10 Contrast agents

Country Status (16)

Country Link
US (5) US5558856A (en)
EP (2) EP0972527A3 (en)
JP (1) JPH07505136A (en)
AT (1) ATE191646T1 (en)
AU (2) AU676147B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2127705C (en)
DE (1) DE69328354T2 (en)
DK (1) DK0620744T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2144454T3 (en)
GB (1) GB9200388D0 (en)
GR (1) GR3033902T3 (en)
HK (1) HK1001994A1 (en)
NO (1) NO311330B1 (en)
PT (1) PT620744E (en)
SG (1) SG52338A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1993013808A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (100)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5585112A (en) 1989-12-22 1996-12-17 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Method of preparing gas and gaseous precursor-filled microspheres
US6088613A (en) 1989-12-22 2000-07-11 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Method of magnetic resonance focused surgical and therapeutic ultrasound
US6146657A (en) 1989-12-22 2000-11-14 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Gas-filled lipid spheres for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications
US5922304A (en) 1989-12-22 1999-07-13 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Gaseous precursor filled microspheres as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents
US6001335A (en) 1989-12-22 1999-12-14 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Contrasting agents for ultrasonic imaging and methods for preparing the same
US5542935A (en) 1989-12-22 1996-08-06 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Therapeutic delivery systems related applications
US5656211A (en) 1989-12-22 1997-08-12 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Apparatus and method for making gas-filled vesicles of optimal size
US5469854A (en) 1989-12-22 1995-11-28 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Methods of preparing gas-filled liposomes
US6551576B1 (en) 1989-12-22 2003-04-22 Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging, Inc. Container with multi-phase composition for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications
US5776429A (en) 1989-12-22 1998-07-07 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Method of preparing gas-filled microspheres using a lyophilized lipids
US6989141B2 (en) * 1990-05-18 2006-01-24 Bracco International B.V. Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US20010024638A1 (en) * 1992-11-02 2001-09-27 Michel Schneider Stable microbubble suspensions as enhancement agents for ultrasound echography and dry formulations thereof
US6613306B1 (en) 1990-04-02 2003-09-02 Bracco International B.V. Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US5578292A (en) 1991-11-20 1996-11-26 Bracco International B.V. Long-lasting aqueous dispersions or suspensions of pressure-resistant gas-filled microvesicles and methods for the preparation thereof
US7083778B2 (en) * 1991-05-03 2006-08-01 Bracco International B.V. Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
IN172208B (en) 1990-04-02 1993-05-01 Sint Sa
US20040208826A1 (en) * 1990-04-02 2004-10-21 Bracco International B.V. Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US5445813A (en) * 1992-11-02 1995-08-29 Bracco International B.V. Stable microbubble suspensions as enhancement agents for ultrasound echography
USRE39146E1 (en) 1990-04-02 2006-06-27 Bracco International B.V. Long-lasting aqueous dispersions or suspensions of pressure-resistant gas-filled microvesicles and methods for the preparation thereof
AU636481B2 (en) * 1990-05-18 1993-04-29 Bracco International B.V. Polymeric gas or air filled microballoons usable as suspensions in liquid carriers for ultrasonic echography
US20030194376A1 (en) * 1990-05-18 2003-10-16 Bracco International B.V. Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US5205290A (en) 1991-04-05 1993-04-27 Unger Evan C Low density microspheres and their use as contrast agents for computed tomography
US5874062A (en) 1991-04-05 1999-02-23 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Methods of computed tomography using perfluorocarbon gaseous filled microspheres as contrast agents
US6875420B1 (en) 1991-09-17 2005-04-05 Amersham Health As Method of ultrasound imaging
US6723303B1 (en) 1991-09-17 2004-04-20 Amersham Health, As Ultrasound contrast agents including protein stabilized microspheres of perfluoropropane, perfluorobutane or perfluoropentane
MX9205298A (en) * 1991-09-17 1993-05-01 Steven Carl Quay GASEOUS ULTRASOUND CONTRASTING MEDIA AND METHOD FOR SELECTING GASES TO BE USED AS ULTRASOUND CONTRASTING MEDIA
GB9200388D0 (en) * 1992-01-09 1992-02-26 Nycomed As Improvements in or relating to contrast agents
IL104084A (en) 1992-01-24 1996-09-12 Bracco Int Bv Long-lasting aqueous suspensions of pressure-resistant gas-filled microvesicles their preparation and contrast agents consisting of them
CZ191695A3 (en) * 1993-01-25 1996-05-15 Sonus Pharma Inc Biologically compatible contrast agent, process of its preparation and representation method by ultrasound
IL108416A (en) 1993-01-25 1998-10-30 Sonus Pharma Inc Phase shift colloids as ultrasound contrast agents
US5798091A (en) * 1993-07-30 1998-08-25 Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. Stabilized gas emulsion containing phospholipid for ultrasound contrast enhancement
DK0711179T3 (en) * 1993-07-30 2005-02-14 Imcor Pharmaceutical Co Stabilized ultrasound microbubble compositions
CZ208995A3 (en) * 1993-12-15 1996-01-17 Bracco Research Sa Injectable ultrasound medium, process of its preparation and use
DE4406474A1 (en) 1994-02-23 1995-08-24 Schering Ag Gas-containing microparticles, agents containing them, their use in ultrasound diagnostics, and methods for producing the particles and agents
US5540909A (en) * 1994-09-28 1996-07-30 Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. Harmonic ultrasound imaging with microbubbles
WO1998053855A1 (en) * 1997-05-30 1998-12-03 Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. Methods and apparatus for monitoring and quantifying the movement of fluid
US6743779B1 (en) 1994-11-29 2004-06-01 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Methods for delivering compounds into a cell
US5830430A (en) 1995-02-21 1998-11-03 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Cationic lipids and the use thereof
US5997898A (en) 1995-06-06 1999-12-07 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Stabilized compositions of fluorinated amphiphiles for methods of therapeutic delivery
US6033645A (en) 1996-06-19 2000-03-07 Unger; Evan C. Methods for diagnostic imaging by regulating the administration rate of a contrast agent
US6139819A (en) 1995-06-07 2000-10-31 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Targeted contrast agents for diagnostic and therapeutic use
US6521211B1 (en) 1995-06-07 2003-02-18 Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging, Inc. Methods of imaging and treatment with targeted compositions
US5804162A (en) 1995-06-07 1998-09-08 Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. Gas emulsions stabilized with fluorinated ethers having low Ostwald coefficients
US6231834B1 (en) 1995-06-07 2001-05-15 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Methods for ultrasound imaging involving the use of a contrast agent and multiple images and processing of same
DE19602930A1 (en) * 1996-01-18 1997-07-24 Schering Ag Porous matrices made of low molecular weight substances for the generation of stable gas bubble suspensions, their use as ultrasound contrast agents and processes for their production
US5611344A (en) * 1996-03-05 1997-03-18 Acusphere, Inc. Microencapsulated fluorinated gases for use as imaging agents
WO1997040679A1 (en) 1996-05-01 1997-11-06 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Methods for delivering compounds into a cell
DE19626530A1 (en) * 1996-07-02 1998-01-15 Byk Gulden Lomberg Chem Fab Aqueous magnetic resonance contrast agent compositions
US5837221A (en) * 1996-07-29 1998-11-17 Acusphere, Inc. Polymer-lipid microencapsulated gases for use as imaging agents
US6414139B1 (en) 1996-09-03 2002-07-02 Imarx Therapeutics, Inc. Silicon amphiphilic compounds and the use thereof
DK0977597T3 (en) 1996-09-11 2003-05-05 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp Improved methods of diagnostic imaging using a contrast agent and a vasodilator.
US5846517A (en) 1996-09-11 1998-12-08 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Methods for diagnostic imaging using a renal contrast agent and a vasodilator
US6143276A (en) 1997-03-21 2000-11-07 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Methods for delivering bioactive agents to regions of elevated temperatures
US6537246B1 (en) 1997-06-18 2003-03-25 Imarx Therapeutics, Inc. Oxygen delivery agents and uses for the same
US6090800A (en) 1997-05-06 2000-07-18 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Lipid soluble steroid prodrugs
US6416740B1 (en) 1997-05-13 2002-07-09 Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging, Inc. Acoustically active drug delivery systems
US6548047B1 (en) 1997-09-15 2003-04-15 Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging, Inc. Thermal preactivation of gaseous precursor filled compositions
US6123923A (en) 1997-12-18 2000-09-26 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Optoacoustic contrast agents and methods for their use
US20010003580A1 (en) 1998-01-14 2001-06-14 Poh K. Hui Preparation of a lipid blend and a phospholipid suspension containing the lipid blend
DE19805012A1 (en) * 1998-02-07 1999-08-12 Thomas Gieselmann Contrast agent for use as a diagnostic agent in imaging processes and its production
US6444192B1 (en) 1999-02-05 2002-09-03 The Regents Of The University Of California Diagnostic imaging of lymph structures
US6514209B1 (en) 1999-06-07 2003-02-04 Drexel University Method of enhancing ultrasonic techniques via measurement of ultraharmonic signals
CA2401879A1 (en) * 2000-03-06 2001-09-13 Stephan Mangin Embolic agents visible under ultrasound
EP1289565B1 (en) 2000-06-02 2015-04-22 Bracco Suisse SA Compounds for targeting endothelial cells
US8623822B2 (en) 2002-03-01 2014-01-07 Bracco Suisse Sa KDR and VEGF/KDR binding peptides and their use in diagnosis and therapy
US7794693B2 (en) 2002-03-01 2010-09-14 Bracco International B.V. Targeting vector-phospholipid conjugates
US7211240B2 (en) 2002-03-01 2007-05-01 Bracco International B.V. Multivalent constructs for therapeutic and diagnostic applications
EP1587944A4 (en) 2002-03-01 2007-03-21 Dyax Corp Kdr and vegf/kdr binding peptides and their use in diagnosis and therapy
US7261876B2 (en) 2002-03-01 2007-08-28 Bracco International Bv Multivalent constructs for therapeutic and diagnostic applications
EP2014310B8 (en) 2002-03-01 2012-12-26 Dyax Corp. KDR and VEGF/KDR binding peptides and their use in diagnosis and therapy
US7462366B2 (en) 2002-03-29 2008-12-09 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Drug delivery particle
EP1511522B1 (en) 2002-06-12 2011-08-10 Boston Scientific Limited Bulking agents
US7842377B2 (en) 2003-08-08 2010-11-30 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Porous polymeric particle comprising polyvinyl alcohol and having interior to surface porosity-gradient
US8012454B2 (en) 2002-08-30 2011-09-06 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Embolization
US7883490B2 (en) 2002-10-23 2011-02-08 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Mixing and delivery of therapeutic compositions
JP5466350B2 (en) 2003-03-03 2014-04-09 ダイアックス、コープ Peptides that specifically bind the HGF receptor (cMet) and uses thereof
US20040258760A1 (en) * 2003-03-20 2004-12-23 Wheatley Margaret A. Isolated nanocapsule populations and surfactant-stabilized microcapsules and nanocapsules for diagnostic imaging and drug delivery and methods for their production
US7976823B2 (en) 2003-08-29 2011-07-12 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Ferromagnetic particles and methods
US7736671B2 (en) 2004-03-02 2010-06-15 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Embolization
US8173176B2 (en) 2004-03-30 2012-05-08 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Embolization
US7311861B2 (en) 2004-06-01 2007-12-25 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Embolization
US8012457B2 (en) 2004-06-04 2011-09-06 Acusphere, Inc. Ultrasound contrast agent dosage formulation
US8425550B2 (en) 2004-12-01 2013-04-23 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Embolic coils
US20060159712A1 (en) * 2004-12-14 2006-07-20 Transave, Inc. Lipid particles comprising bioactive agents, methods of preparing and uses thereof
US7727555B2 (en) 2005-03-02 2010-06-01 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Particles
US7858183B2 (en) 2005-03-02 2010-12-28 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Particles
US7963287B2 (en) 2005-04-28 2011-06-21 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Tissue-treatment methods
US9463426B2 (en) 2005-06-24 2016-10-11 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Methods and systems for coating particles
US8007509B2 (en) 2005-10-12 2011-08-30 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Coil assemblies, components and methods
US8152839B2 (en) 2005-12-19 2012-04-10 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Embolic coils
US8101197B2 (en) 2005-12-19 2012-01-24 Stryker Corporation Forming coils
US7947368B2 (en) 2005-12-21 2011-05-24 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Block copolymer particles
US9220709B2 (en) * 2006-05-19 2015-12-29 Drexel University Drug loaded contrast agents: combining diagnosis and therapy
US8414927B2 (en) 2006-11-03 2013-04-09 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Cross-linked polymer particles
WO2008101173A2 (en) * 2007-02-16 2008-08-21 Cornell University Biodegradable compositions and materials
JP5196896B2 (en) * 2007-07-13 2013-05-15 花王株式会社 Method for producing fine bubble precursor
GB0811856D0 (en) * 2008-06-27 2008-07-30 Ucl Business Plc Magnetic microbubbles, methods of preparing them and their uses
DE102011000264B4 (en) 2011-01-21 2019-01-17 Surflay Nanotec Gmbh Microbubbles with PVA wall, production and use of such microbubbles
WO2012136813A2 (en) 2011-04-07 2012-10-11 Universitetet I Oslo Agents for medical radar diagnosis
KR101853948B1 (en) * 2013-07-05 2018-05-02 사회복지법인 삼성생명공익재단 Composition containing x-ray contrast and bubble accelerator and method for producing the same

Citations (82)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3557294A (en) * 1967-10-12 1971-01-19 Allied Chem Fluorinated ethers as inhalation convulsants
US3650831A (en) * 1969-03-10 1972-03-21 Armour Dial Inc Method of cleaning surfaces
US3663687A (en) * 1968-06-26 1972-05-16 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Biodegradable parenteral microspherules
US3720761A (en) * 1968-10-14 1973-03-13 W Hunter Injectable radio-pharmaceutical scanning agent and preparation
US3832457A (en) * 1969-06-20 1974-08-27 Rikagaku Kenkyusho Ferrite contrast media with metallic oxides
US3900420A (en) * 1970-05-18 1975-08-19 Felix Sebba Microgas emulsions and method of forming same
US3932805A (en) * 1973-02-02 1976-01-13 Kichizo Niwa Method of obtaining internal information of a measuring target from the out-side by the application of a nuclear magnetic resonance phenomenon
US3968203A (en) * 1965-10-01 1976-07-06 Jerome G. Spitzer Aerosol astringent composition
US4101435A (en) * 1975-06-19 1978-07-18 Meito Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha Magnetic iron oxide-dextran complex and process for its production
US4107288A (en) * 1974-09-18 1978-08-15 Pharmaceutical Society Of Victoria Injectable compositions, nanoparticles useful therein, and process of manufacturing same
US4244179A (en) * 1977-01-28 1981-01-13 Kainov Gennady P Annular combustion chamber for gas turbine engines
US4247406A (en) * 1979-04-23 1981-01-27 Widder Kenneth J Intravascularly-administrable, magnetically-localizable biodegradable carrier
US4265251A (en) * 1979-06-28 1981-05-05 Rasor Associates, Inc. Method of determining pressure within liquid containing vessel
US4276885A (en) * 1979-05-04 1981-07-07 Rasor Associates, Inc Ultrasonic image enhancement
US4316391A (en) * 1979-11-13 1982-02-23 Ultra Med, Inc. Flow rate measurement
US4329332A (en) * 1978-07-19 1982-05-11 Patrick Couvreur Biodegradable submicroscopic particles containing a biologically active substance and compositions containing them
US4331654A (en) * 1980-06-13 1982-05-25 Eli Lilly And Company Magnetically-localizable, biodegradable lipid microspheres
US4335094A (en) * 1979-01-26 1982-06-15 Mosbach Klaus H Magnetic polymer particles
US4371516A (en) * 1976-10-06 1983-02-01 John Wyeth & Brother Limited Articles for carrying chemicals
US4427649A (en) * 1976-03-19 1984-01-24 Imperial Chemical Industries Limited Pharmaceutical compositions
US4442843A (en) * 1980-11-17 1984-04-17 Schering, Ag Microbubble precursors and methods for their production and use
US4452773A (en) * 1982-04-05 1984-06-05 Canadian Patents And Development Limited Magnetic iron-dextran microspheres
US4466442A (en) * 1981-10-16 1984-08-21 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Carrier liquid solutions for the production of gas microbubbles, preparation thereof, and use thereof as contrast medium for ultrasonic diagnostics
US4501726A (en) * 1981-11-12 1985-02-26 Schroeder Ulf Intravascularly administrable, magnetically responsive nanosphere or nanoparticle, a process for the production thereof, and the use thereof
US4572203A (en) * 1983-01-27 1986-02-25 Feinstein Steven B Contact agents for ultrasonic imaging
US4663161A (en) * 1985-04-22 1987-05-05 Mannino Raphael J Liposome methods and compositions
US4675173A (en) * 1985-05-08 1987-06-23 Molecular Biosystems, Inc. Method of magnetic resonance imaging of the liver and spleen
US4681119A (en) * 1980-11-17 1987-07-21 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Method of production and use of microbubble precursors
US4684479A (en) * 1985-08-14 1987-08-04 Arrigo Joseph S D Surfactant mixtures, stable gas-in-liquid emulsions, and methods for the production of such emulsions from said mixtures
US4687748A (en) * 1982-03-29 1987-08-18 Gambro Lundia Ab Magnetic carbohydrate particles as carriers for affinity separation purposes
US4718433A (en) * 1983-01-27 1988-01-12 Feinstein Steven B Contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging
US4731239A (en) * 1983-01-10 1988-03-15 Gordon Robert T Method for enhancing NMR imaging; and diagnostic use
US4767611A (en) * 1984-07-03 1988-08-30 Gordon Robert T Method for affecting intracellular and extracellular electric and magnetic dipoles
US4770183A (en) * 1986-07-03 1988-09-13 Advanced Magnetics Incorporated Biologically degradable superparamagnetic particles for use as nuclear magnetic resonance imaging agents
US4827945A (en) * 1986-07-03 1989-05-09 Advanced Magnetics, Incorporated Biologically degradable superparamagnetic materials for use in clinical applications
US4832941A (en) * 1985-08-14 1989-05-23 Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Wissenschaften E.V Contrast medium for ultrasonic examinations and process for its preparation
US4844882A (en) * 1987-12-29 1989-07-04 Molecular Biosystems, Inc. Concentrated stabilized microbubble-type ultrasonic imaging agent
US4858208A (en) * 1988-07-11 1989-08-15 Motorola, Inc. Apparatus and method for testing semiconductor devices
US4863715A (en) * 1984-03-29 1989-09-05 Nycomed As Method of NMK imaging using a contrast agent comprising particles of a ferromagnetic material
US4900540A (en) * 1983-06-20 1990-02-13 Trustees Of The University Of Massachusetts Lipisomes containing gas for ultrasound detection
US4904479A (en) * 1986-01-17 1990-02-27 Danbiosyst Uk Limited Drug delivery system
US4918065A (en) * 1982-07-07 1990-04-17 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Corticoid-containing preparation for topical application
US4957656A (en) * 1988-09-14 1990-09-18 Molecular Biosystems, Inc. Continuous sonication method for preparing protein encapsulated microbubbles
US4985233A (en) * 1984-11-01 1991-01-15 Nycomed /As A diagnostic agent containing a non-radioactive paramagnetic metal species in a macromolecular carrier
US4986980A (en) * 1984-11-01 1991-01-22 Nycomed As Water-soluble, carrier-bound paramagnetic metal containing diagnostic agents
US5008109A (en) * 1984-05-25 1991-04-16 Vestar, Inc. Vesicle stabilization
US5088499A (en) * 1989-12-22 1992-02-18 Unger Evan C Liposomes as contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging and methods for preparing the same
US5107842A (en) * 1991-02-22 1992-04-28 Molecular Biosystems, Inc. Method of ultrasound imaging of the gastrointestinal tract
US5141738A (en) * 1983-04-15 1992-08-25 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Ultrasonic contrast medium comprising gas bubbles and solid lipophilic surfactant-containing microparticles and use thereof
US5147631A (en) * 1991-04-30 1992-09-15 Du Pont Merck Pharmaceutical Company Porous inorganic ultrasound contrast agents
US5205290A (en) * 1991-04-05 1993-04-27 Unger Evan C Low density microspheres and their use as contrast agents for computed tomography
US5228446A (en) * 1989-12-22 1993-07-20 Unger Evan C Gas filled liposomes and their use as ultrasonic contrast agents
US5310540A (en) * 1990-10-05 1994-05-10 Sintetica Sa Method for the preparation of stable suspensions of hollow gas-filled microspheres suitable for ultrasonic echography
US5334381A (en) * 1989-12-22 1994-08-02 Unger Evan C Liposomes as contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging and methods for preparing the same
US5380519A (en) * 1990-04-02 1995-01-10 Bracco International B.V. Stable microbubbles suspensions injectable into living organisms
US5393524A (en) * 1991-09-17 1995-02-28 Sonus Pharmaceuticals Inc. Methods for selecting and using gases as ultrasound contrast media
US5413774A (en) * 1992-01-23 1995-05-09 Bracco International B.V. Long-lasting aqueous dispersions or suspensions of pressure-resistant gas-filled microvesicles and methods for the preparation thereof
US5425366A (en) * 1988-02-05 1995-06-20 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Ultrasonic contrast agents for color Doppler imaging
US5445813A (en) * 1992-11-02 1995-08-29 Bracco International B.V. Stable microbubble suspensions as enhancement agents for ultrasound echography
US5501863A (en) * 1990-02-09 1996-03-26 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Contrast media synthesized from polyaldehydes
US5508021A (en) * 1993-03-26 1996-04-16 Vivorx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Non-fluorinated polymeric shells for medical imaging
US5529766A (en) * 1991-03-28 1996-06-25 Nycomed Imaging As Contrast agents
US5536489A (en) * 1993-06-04 1996-07-16 Molecular Biosystems, Inc. Emulsions as contrast agents and method of use
US5536490A (en) * 1991-03-28 1996-07-16 Nycomed Imaging As Contrast agents
US5542935A (en) * 1989-12-22 1996-08-06 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Therapeutic delivery systems related applications
US5599523A (en) * 1991-01-09 1997-02-04 Byk Gulden Lomberg Chemische Fabrik Gmbh Echo contrast agent
US5605673A (en) * 1993-07-30 1997-02-25 Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. Stabilized microbubble compositions for ultrasound
US5607661A (en) * 1991-07-05 1997-03-04 Nycomed Imaging As Aggregates of x-ray microparticles for ultrasound imaging
US5614169A (en) * 1992-01-09 1997-03-25 Nycomed Imaging As Contrast agents, consisting of galactose particles and an amphilic carboxylic acid
US5618514A (en) * 1983-12-21 1997-04-08 Nycomed Imaging As Diagnostic and contrast agent
US5637564A (en) * 1992-08-06 1997-06-10 Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. Amphiphilic compounds derived from amino acids or peptides, their methods of synthesis and their application as drug delivery systems
US5639433A (en) * 1995-12-13 1997-06-17 Cytec Technology Corp. Extraction of rare earth elements using alkyl phosphinic acid or salt/alkyl or aryl phosphonic acid or ester blends as extractant
US5639442A (en) * 1990-06-01 1997-06-17 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Contrast media for ultrasonic imaging
US5648062A (en) * 1992-01-09 1997-07-15 Nycomed Imaging As Contrast agents consisting of galactose particles
US5653959A (en) * 1991-02-15 1997-08-05 Sintetica Sa Compositions for increasing the image contrast in diagnostic investigations of the digestive tract of patients
US5705187A (en) * 1989-12-22 1998-01-06 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Compositions of lipids and stabilizing materials
US5711933A (en) * 1990-05-18 1998-01-27 Bracco International B.V. Method of making polymeric gas or air filled microballoons for ultrasonic echography
US5718884A (en) * 1992-09-16 1998-02-17 Nycomed Imaging As Microbubble-based contrast agents with crosslinked and reduced proteinaceous shells
US5720939A (en) * 1985-08-15 1998-02-24 Nycomed Imaging As Method of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging using magnetically responsive-particles
US5730954A (en) * 1988-08-23 1998-03-24 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Preparation comprising cavitate- or clathrate-forming host/guest complexes as contrast agent
US5730955A (en) * 1994-08-02 1998-03-24 Molecular Biosystems, Inc. Process for making gas-filled microspheres containing a liquid hydrophobic barrier
US5733572A (en) * 1989-12-22 1998-03-31 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Gas and gaseous precursor filled microspheres as topical and subcutaneous delivery vehicles

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4027007A (en) * 1970-12-09 1977-05-31 Colgate-Palmolive Company Antiperspirants formulated with borax
US4657756A (en) * 1980-11-17 1987-04-14 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Microbubble precursors and apparatus for their production and use
DE3313947A1 (en) * 1983-04-15 1984-10-18 Schering AG, 1000 Berlin und 4709 Bergkamen MICROPARTICLES AND GAS BUBBLES CONTAINING ULTRASONIC CONTRASTING AGENTS
DE3313946A1 (en) * 1983-04-15 1984-10-18 Schering AG, 1000 Berlin und 4709 Bergkamen MICROPARTICLES AND GAS BUBBLES CONTAINING ULTRASONIC CONTRASTING AGENTS
DE3834705A1 (en) * 1988-10-07 1990-04-12 Schering Ag ULTRASONIC CONTRASTING AGENTS FROM GAS BUBBLES AND MICROPARTICLES CONTAINING FATTY ACID
DE3637926C1 (en) * 1986-11-05 1987-11-26 Schering Ag Ultrasonic manometry in a liquid using microbubbles
US5196348A (en) * 1990-06-11 1993-03-23 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Perfluoro-crown ethers in fluorine magnetic resonance spectroscopy of biopsied tissue
GB9200388D0 (en) * 1992-01-09 1992-02-26 Nycomed As Improvements in or relating to contrast agents
WO1993017212A1 (en) * 1992-02-26 1993-09-02 Gardner, John, Richard, Greenough Closure assemblies for openings

Patent Citations (102)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3968203A (en) * 1965-10-01 1976-07-06 Jerome G. Spitzer Aerosol astringent composition
US3557294A (en) * 1967-10-12 1971-01-19 Allied Chem Fluorinated ethers as inhalation convulsants
US3663687A (en) * 1968-06-26 1972-05-16 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Biodegradable parenteral microspherules
US3720761A (en) * 1968-10-14 1973-03-13 W Hunter Injectable radio-pharmaceutical scanning agent and preparation
US3650831A (en) * 1969-03-10 1972-03-21 Armour Dial Inc Method of cleaning surfaces
US3832457A (en) * 1969-06-20 1974-08-27 Rikagaku Kenkyusho Ferrite contrast media with metallic oxides
US3900420A (en) * 1970-05-18 1975-08-19 Felix Sebba Microgas emulsions and method of forming same
US3932805A (en) * 1973-02-02 1976-01-13 Kichizo Niwa Method of obtaining internal information of a measuring target from the out-side by the application of a nuclear magnetic resonance phenomenon
US4107288A (en) * 1974-09-18 1978-08-15 Pharmaceutical Society Of Victoria Injectable compositions, nanoparticles useful therein, and process of manufacturing same
US4101435A (en) * 1975-06-19 1978-07-18 Meito Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha Magnetic iron oxide-dextran complex and process for its production
US4427649A (en) * 1976-03-19 1984-01-24 Imperial Chemical Industries Limited Pharmaceutical compositions
US4371516A (en) * 1976-10-06 1983-02-01 John Wyeth & Brother Limited Articles for carrying chemicals
US4244179A (en) * 1977-01-28 1981-01-13 Kainov Gennady P Annular combustion chamber for gas turbine engines
US4329332A (en) * 1978-07-19 1982-05-11 Patrick Couvreur Biodegradable submicroscopic particles containing a biologically active substance and compositions containing them
US4335094A (en) * 1979-01-26 1982-06-15 Mosbach Klaus H Magnetic polymer particles
US4247406A (en) * 1979-04-23 1981-01-27 Widder Kenneth J Intravascularly-administrable, magnetically-localizable biodegradable carrier
US4276885A (en) * 1979-05-04 1981-07-07 Rasor Associates, Inc Ultrasonic image enhancement
US4265251A (en) * 1979-06-28 1981-05-05 Rasor Associates, Inc. Method of determining pressure within liquid containing vessel
US4316391A (en) * 1979-11-13 1982-02-23 Ultra Med, Inc. Flow rate measurement
US4331654A (en) * 1980-06-13 1982-05-25 Eli Lilly And Company Magnetically-localizable, biodegradable lipid microspheres
US4442843A (en) * 1980-11-17 1984-04-17 Schering, Ag Microbubble precursors and methods for their production and use
US4681119A (en) * 1980-11-17 1987-07-21 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Method of production and use of microbubble precursors
US4466442A (en) * 1981-10-16 1984-08-21 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Carrier liquid solutions for the production of gas microbubbles, preparation thereof, and use thereof as contrast medium for ultrasonic diagnostics
US4501726A (en) * 1981-11-12 1985-02-26 Schroeder Ulf Intravascularly administrable, magnetically responsive nanosphere or nanoparticle, a process for the production thereof, and the use thereof
US4687748A (en) * 1982-03-29 1987-08-18 Gambro Lundia Ab Magnetic carbohydrate particles as carriers for affinity separation purposes
US4452773A (en) * 1982-04-05 1984-06-05 Canadian Patents And Development Limited Magnetic iron-dextran microspheres
US4918065A (en) * 1982-07-07 1990-04-17 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Corticoid-containing preparation for topical application
US4731239A (en) * 1983-01-10 1988-03-15 Gordon Robert T Method for enhancing NMR imaging; and diagnostic use
US4718433A (en) * 1983-01-27 1988-01-12 Feinstein Steven B Contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging
US4572203A (en) * 1983-01-27 1986-02-25 Feinstein Steven B Contact agents for ultrasonic imaging
US5141738A (en) * 1983-04-15 1992-08-25 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Ultrasonic contrast medium comprising gas bubbles and solid lipophilic surfactant-containing microparticles and use thereof
US4900540A (en) * 1983-06-20 1990-02-13 Trustees Of The University Of Massachusetts Lipisomes containing gas for ultrasound detection
US5618514A (en) * 1983-12-21 1997-04-08 Nycomed Imaging As Diagnostic and contrast agent
US4863715A (en) * 1984-03-29 1989-09-05 Nycomed As Method of NMK imaging using a contrast agent comprising particles of a ferromagnetic material
US5008109A (en) * 1984-05-25 1991-04-16 Vestar, Inc. Vesicle stabilization
US4767611A (en) * 1984-07-03 1988-08-30 Gordon Robert T Method for affecting intracellular and extracellular electric and magnetic dipoles
US4986980A (en) * 1984-11-01 1991-01-22 Nycomed As Water-soluble, carrier-bound paramagnetic metal containing diagnostic agents
US4985233A (en) * 1984-11-01 1991-01-15 Nycomed /As A diagnostic agent containing a non-radioactive paramagnetic metal species in a macromolecular carrier
US4663161A (en) * 1985-04-22 1987-05-05 Mannino Raphael J Liposome methods and compositions
US4675173A (en) * 1985-05-08 1987-06-23 Molecular Biosystems, Inc. Method of magnetic resonance imaging of the liver and spleen
US4684479A (en) * 1985-08-14 1987-08-04 Arrigo Joseph S D Surfactant mixtures, stable gas-in-liquid emulsions, and methods for the production of such emulsions from said mixtures
US4832941A (en) * 1985-08-14 1989-05-23 Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Wissenschaften E.V Contrast medium for ultrasonic examinations and process for its preparation
US5720939A (en) * 1985-08-15 1998-02-24 Nycomed Imaging As Method of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging using magnetically responsive-particles
US4904479A (en) * 1986-01-17 1990-02-27 Danbiosyst Uk Limited Drug delivery system
US4827945A (en) * 1986-07-03 1989-05-09 Advanced Magnetics, Incorporated Biologically degradable superparamagnetic materials for use in clinical applications
US4770183A (en) * 1986-07-03 1988-09-13 Advanced Magnetics Incorporated Biologically degradable superparamagnetic particles for use as nuclear magnetic resonance imaging agents
US4844882A (en) * 1987-12-29 1989-07-04 Molecular Biosystems, Inc. Concentrated stabilized microbubble-type ultrasonic imaging agent
US5425366A (en) * 1988-02-05 1995-06-20 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Ultrasonic contrast agents for color Doppler imaging
US4858208A (en) * 1988-07-11 1989-08-15 Motorola, Inc. Apparatus and method for testing semiconductor devices
US5730954A (en) * 1988-08-23 1998-03-24 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Preparation comprising cavitate- or clathrate-forming host/guest complexes as contrast agent
US4957656A (en) * 1988-09-14 1990-09-18 Molecular Biosystems, Inc. Continuous sonication method for preparing protein encapsulated microbubbles
US5228446A (en) * 1989-12-22 1993-07-20 Unger Evan C Gas filled liposomes and their use as ultrasonic contrast agents
US5088499A (en) * 1989-12-22 1992-02-18 Unger Evan C Liposomes as contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging and methods for preparing the same
US5542935A (en) * 1989-12-22 1996-08-06 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Therapeutic delivery systems related applications
US5334381A (en) * 1989-12-22 1994-08-02 Unger Evan C Liposomes as contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging and methods for preparing the same
US5705187A (en) * 1989-12-22 1998-01-06 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Compositions of lipids and stabilizing materials
US5733572A (en) * 1989-12-22 1998-03-31 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Gas and gaseous precursor filled microspheres as topical and subcutaneous delivery vehicles
US5501863A (en) * 1990-02-09 1996-03-26 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Contrast media synthesized from polyaldehydes
US5380519A (en) * 1990-04-02 1995-01-10 Bracco International B.V. Stable microbubbles suspensions injectable into living organisms
US5531980A (en) * 1990-04-02 1996-07-02 Bracco International Bv Stable microbubbles suspensions injectable into living organisms
US5658551A (en) * 1990-04-02 1997-08-19 Bracco International B.V. Stable microbubbles suspensions injectable into living organisms
US5643553A (en) * 1990-04-02 1997-07-01 Bracco International B.V. Stable microbubbles suspensions injectable into living organisms
US5711933A (en) * 1990-05-18 1998-01-27 Bracco International B.V. Method of making polymeric gas or air filled microballoons for ultrasonic echography
US5863520A (en) * 1990-05-18 1999-01-26 Bracco International B.V. Method of echographic imaging using polymeric gas or air filled microballoons
US5639442A (en) * 1990-06-01 1997-06-17 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Contrast media for ultrasonic imaging
US5714529A (en) * 1990-06-01 1998-02-03 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Contrast media for ultrasonic imaging
US5310540A (en) * 1990-10-05 1994-05-10 Sintetica Sa Method for the preparation of stable suspensions of hollow gas-filled microspheres suitable for ultrasonic echography
US5599523A (en) * 1991-01-09 1997-02-04 Byk Gulden Lomberg Chemische Fabrik Gmbh Echo contrast agent
US5653959A (en) * 1991-02-15 1997-08-05 Sintetica Sa Compositions for increasing the image contrast in diagnostic investigations of the digestive tract of patients
US5107842A (en) * 1991-02-22 1992-04-28 Molecular Biosystems, Inc. Method of ultrasound imaging of the gastrointestinal tract
US5536490A (en) * 1991-03-28 1996-07-16 Nycomed Imaging As Contrast agents
US5529766A (en) * 1991-03-28 1996-06-25 Nycomed Imaging As Contrast agents
US5529766C1 (en) * 1991-03-28 2002-06-04 Nycomed Imaging As Contrast agents
US5205290A (en) * 1991-04-05 1993-04-27 Unger Evan C Low density microspheres and their use as contrast agents for computed tomography
US5527521A (en) * 1991-04-05 1996-06-18 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Low density microspheres and suspensions and their use as contrast agents for computed tomography and in other applications
US5547656A (en) * 1991-04-05 1996-08-20 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp. Low density microspheres and their use as contrast agents for computed tomography, and in other applications
US5281408A (en) * 1991-04-05 1994-01-25 Unger Evan C Low density microspheres and their use as contrast agents for computed tomography
US5527521B1 (en) * 1991-04-05 1999-11-09 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp Low density microspheres and suspensions and their use as contrast agents for computed tomography and in other applications
US5547656B1 (en) * 1991-04-05 1999-07-20 Imarx Pharmaceutical Corp Low density microspheres and their use as contrast agents for computed tomography and in other applications
US5147631A (en) * 1991-04-30 1992-09-15 Du Pont Merck Pharmaceutical Company Porous inorganic ultrasound contrast agents
US5772984A (en) * 1991-07-05 1998-06-30 Nycomed Imaging As Method of ultrasound imaging using microbubble-forming, solid X-ray contrast agents
US5607661A (en) * 1991-07-05 1997-03-04 Nycomed Imaging As Aggregates of x-ray microparticles for ultrasound imaging
US5393524A (en) * 1991-09-17 1995-02-28 Sonus Pharmaceuticals Inc. Methods for selecting and using gases as ultrasound contrast media
US5409688A (en) * 1991-09-17 1995-04-25 Sonus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Gaseous ultrasound contrast media
US5614169A (en) * 1992-01-09 1997-03-25 Nycomed Imaging As Contrast agents, consisting of galactose particles and an amphilic carboxylic acid
US5648062A (en) * 1992-01-09 1997-07-15 Nycomed Imaging As Contrast agents consisting of galactose particles
US5637289A (en) * 1992-01-09 1997-06-10 Nycomed Imaging As Contrast agents, consisting of galactose particles
US5413774A (en) * 1992-01-23 1995-05-09 Bracco International B.V. Long-lasting aqueous dispersions or suspensions of pressure-resistant gas-filled microvesicles and methods for the preparation thereof
US5637564A (en) * 1992-08-06 1997-06-10 Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. Amphiphilic compounds derived from amino acids or peptides, their methods of synthesis and their application as drug delivery systems
US5718884A (en) * 1992-09-16 1998-02-17 Nycomed Imaging As Microbubble-based contrast agents with crosslinked and reduced proteinaceous shells
US5597549A (en) * 1992-11-02 1997-01-28 Bracco International B.V. Stable microbubble suspensions as enhancement agents for ultrasound echography
US5445813A (en) * 1992-11-02 1995-08-29 Bracco International B.V. Stable microbubble suspensions as enhancement agents for ultrasound echography
US5508021A (en) * 1993-03-26 1996-04-16 Vivorx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Non-fluorinated polymeric shells for medical imaging
US5512268A (en) * 1993-03-26 1996-04-30 Vivorx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Polymeric shells for medical imaging prepared from synthetic polymers, and methods for the use thereof
US5716597A (en) * 1993-06-04 1998-02-10 Molecular Biosystems, Inc. Emulsions as contrast agents and method of use
US5536489A (en) * 1993-06-04 1996-07-16 Molecular Biosystems, Inc. Emulsions as contrast agents and method of use
US5720938A (en) * 1993-07-30 1998-02-24 Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. Systems for the formation of microbubbles
US5639443A (en) * 1993-07-30 1997-06-17 Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. Stabilized microbubble compositions
US5626833A (en) * 1993-07-30 1997-05-06 Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. Ultrasound imaging method using microbubbles
US5605673A (en) * 1993-07-30 1997-02-25 Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. Stabilized microbubble compositions for ultrasound
US5730955A (en) * 1994-08-02 1998-03-24 Molecular Biosystems, Inc. Process for making gas-filled microspheres containing a liquid hydrophobic barrier
US5639433A (en) * 1995-12-13 1997-06-17 Cytec Technology Corp. Extraction of rare earth elements using alkyl phosphinic acid or salt/alkyl or aryl phosphonic acid or ester blends as extractant

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69328354D1 (en) 2000-05-18
EP0972527A3 (en) 2000-08-16
HK1001994A1 (en) 1998-07-24
DE69328354T2 (en) 2000-12-14
US20050196342A1 (en) 2005-09-08
NO311330B1 (en) 2001-11-19
EP0620744A1 (en) 1994-10-26
PT620744E (en) 2000-07-31
AU676147B2 (en) 1997-03-06
ATE191646T1 (en) 2000-04-15
WO1993013808A3 (en) 1993-10-14
WO1993013808A2 (en) 1993-07-22
EP0620744B1 (en) 2000-04-12
CA2127705A1 (en) 1993-07-22
NO942561D0 (en) 1994-07-07
EP0972527A2 (en) 2000-01-19
AU2476397A (en) 1997-08-21
US20030059373A1 (en) 2003-03-27
US5558856A (en) 1996-09-24
AU3348493A (en) 1993-08-03
GB9200388D0 (en) 1992-02-26
DK0620744T3 (en) 2000-09-11
NO942561L (en) 1994-07-07
GR3033902T3 (en) 2000-11-30
JPH07505136A (en) 1995-06-08
CA2127705C (en) 2000-11-21
US5827502A (en) 1998-10-27
SG52338A1 (en) 1998-09-28
ES2144454T3 (en) 2000-06-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5827502A (en) Microparticulate microbubble-generating contrast agents
EP0620743B1 (en) Contrast agents consisting of galactose particles and an amphiphilic carboxylic acid
US5928626A (en) Contrast agents, consisting of carbohydrate particles
EP0593624B1 (en) Improvements in or relating to contrast agents
TW480176B (en) Polymer-lipid microencapsulated gases for use as imaging agents
US20010010811A1 (en) Contrast agents
US5648062A (en) Contrast agents consisting of galactose particles
US20050025710A1 (en) Reconstitutable formulation and aqueous suspension of gas-filled microvesicles for diagnostic imaging

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: EXPRESSLY ABANDONED -- DURING EXAMINATION