Johns Hopkins University

Igal Madar

John C Murphy

Robert Francis Dannals

Hayden T Ravert

Ursula A Scheffel

James J Frost

The invention provides lipophilic salts, particularly, lipophilic salts comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable anion and at least one phosphonium or ammonium cation. In certain embodiments, the cation is labeled with one or more radioisotopes. The lipophilic salts of the invention exhibit an affinity for dysfunctional mitochondria, and are useful for the imaging of cardiovascular diseases and disorders. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using the lipophilic salts.

Non-invasive diagnostic imaging technology for mitochondria using radiolabeled lipophilic salts

Techniques for detecting fluorescence emitted by molecular constituents in a wall of a body lumen include introducing an autonomous solid support into the body lumen. Cells in a lumen wall of the body lumen are illuminated by a light source mounted to the solid support with a wavelength that excites a particular fluorescent signal. A detector mounted to the solid support detects whether illuminated cells emit the particular fluorescent signal. If the particular fluorescent signal is detected from the illuminated cells, then intensity or position in the lumen wall of the detected fluorescent signal, or both, is determined. These techniques allow the information collected by the capsule to support diagnosis and therapy of GI cancer and other intestinal pathologies and syndromes. For example, these techniques allow diagnostic imaging using endogenous and exogenous fluoroprobes, treating diseased sites by targeted release of drug with or without photoactivation, and determining therapeutic efficacy.

Techniques for identifying molecular structures and treating cell types lining a body lumen using fluorescence

The invention provides a series of lipophilic phosphonium cations (PhCs) labeled withF for non-invasive assessment of &#x394;&#x3a8;m, lipophilic ammonium cation analogs of the PhCs, and methods of using same for imaging and detection of mitochondrial-related pathologies in patients using PET or SPECT.

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Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Igal Madar