Diseases of the liver are a major worldwide health problem, yet current diagnostic tests have shortcomings in assessing the functional hepatocyte mass of an individual. In Phase I research, Advanced Magnetics, Inc., developed a magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent that exhibited hepatocyte-specific (liver-specific) biodistribution, by virtue of its recognition by the asialoglycoprotein receptor. The hepatocyte-specific MR contrast agent is a functionalized, or coated, superparamagnetic iron oxide colloid.Using an animal model of human liver pathology, Phase II research will pursue two major goals. First, it will establish that the clearance of the agent, as determined by MR imaging, provides a measure of functional hepatocyte mass. Second, it will establish that the intrahepatic distribution of the agent provides information on the functional anatomy of the liver. Surface-functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide colloids may prove to be a broad class of MR contrast agents, targeted to a variety of receptors and tissues in vivo.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research: The emergence of MR imaging in clinical practice has led to the development of MR contrast agents as an important class of diagnostic pharmaceuticals. The MR contrast agent directed to hepatocytes will be used to assist in diagnosing diseases of the liver..
Thesaurus Terms:Animals, Chordates, Mammals, Rodents, Myomorpha, Rats (Laboratory), Biomagnetism, Cell Ingestion, Receptor-Mediated Pinocytosis, Chemical Synthesis, Design And Production, Proteins And Peptides, Chemistry, Analytical Methods, Spectrometry, Nmr, Hexoses, Galactose, Histochemistry And Cytochemistry, Liver Cells, Liver Visualization, Metalloproteins, Optics, Image Enhancement, Optics, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Mri), Protein Structure, Proteins, Albumins, Proteins, Binding Proteins, Proteins, Glycoproteins, Proteins, Membrane Proteins, Radiography, Contrast Media, Radiotracers, Receptors
