Fluorine Reporter Groups Easily Attached to Biomolecules for MR Imaging
Abstract (Set) Accordingly, the present invention is directed to biological compounds derivatized so as to contain at least one perfluoro-t-butyl moiety for use in fluorine-19 NMR and/or MRI studies. The perfluoro-t-butyl (PFTB) moiety, ##STR1## is an excellent reporter group for fluorine-19 NMR/MRI. It is a source of nine magnetically equivalent fluorine nuclei which generate a single intense resonance for easy detection in spectroscopy or imaging. This signal is a sharp singlet, not split by neighboring nuclei or spread over a wide frequency range and eliminates any chance of ghost images which might arise from multiple resonances. These spectral properties ensure a maximum signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) for readily detecting this moiety. The foregoing allows either reduction in the concentration of the derivatized compound, ability to use MRI instruments with lower field strengths, a reduction in imaging times, or a combination of the foregoing as a result of this moiety producing a single, sharp, intense resonance. Description (Set) Johns Hopkins University is currently seeking licensees for an innovative imaging compound used in Fluorine (19F) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). NMR/MRI is widely used in both scientific research and medical diagnosis to depict anatomy with excellent spatial resolution. However, it suffers from long acquisition times and inability to obtaining metabolic information. Fluorine NMR/MRI shows promise but also poses problems such as poor signal-to-noise ratio and lengthy imaging process. JHU scientists have uncovered that the perfluoro-t-butyl (PFTB) moiety is an excellent reporter group for Fluorine-19 NMR/MRI imaging, which allows reduction in the concentration of imaging agent, ensures a maximum signal-to-noise ratio, and reduces the imaging time.• Allows reduction in the concentration of the derivatized compound, enables use of MRI instruments with lower field strength to lower the operating cost of MRI.
• Reduces imaging time significantly to increase efficiency.
• Achieves higher signal-to-noise ratio to improve diagnostic accuracy. Proposed Use (Set) This technology can be commercialized as a new imaging compound which is able to improve the performance and efficiency of NMR/MRI in both scientific and diagnostic settings. It can also be integrated into new NMR/MRI imaging systems.
Patents:
US 5,397,563
US 5,116,599
US 5,234,680
Type of Offer: Licensing
« More Diagnostic Patents