Quadrant Healthcare, Ltd.

Nottingham University Hospitals Nhs Trust

Biotransys Limited

Roy Harris

David Heath

Nicholas David Osborne

Sarah Margaret Middleton

Alan Christopher Perkins

Paul O'Shea

Mark Robert Fox

Nicola Jane Church

Caroline Louise Hoad

Luca Marciani

Penelope Anne Gowland

Robin Charles Spiller

Methods and apparatus for the study of gastrointestinal transit in a human or animal subject. The method being for the study of a subject which has previously ingested a container containing first and second fluids that are detectable and distinguishable by MRI, which method comprises the steps of forming a first magnetic resonance image of at least a portion of the subject's GI tract in which the container is located, wherein the magnetizations of the first and second fluids are in-phase; forming a second magnetic resonance image, coincident with the first image, wherein the magnetizations of the first and second fluids are out-of-phase; and subtracting the second image from the first image, or vice versa, to form a composite image.

Magnetic resonance imaging methods for the study of gastrointestinal transit

The invention provides the use of a compound capable of preferential interaction with plasma membrane lipid microdomains (PMLMs) as enhancers of transport processes across endothelial, epithelial and mesothelial membranes (ie including blood-brain-blood barrier and gastrointestinal mucosal membranes). When associated with therapeutic agents, the compounds act as transport vehicles. When the compounds interact with PMLMs in such a way as to inhibit transport across the membrane, the compounds function as anti-infective agents.

Compounds and use thereof to modify transport across cell membranes

Removal of lipid from lipid-bound protein such as human serum albumin to produce defatted protein enhances ability of the protein to bind therapeutic agents for use as a carrier for the therapeutic agent. The defatted protein may be reloaded with cationic and/or anionic lipids such as fatty acids, e.g. DC-Chol, to modify charge, hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity of the defatted protein to further enhance ability of the defatted protein to bind a therapeutic agent. A reloaded lipid itself may be a therapeutic agent. The defatted protein may be produced as microparticles by spray-drying. Defatting can be achieved by removing fatty acids with acidified activated charcoal, or by solvent extraction. A complex of DNA and a microparticle of defatted protein containing a cationic or anionic lipid molecule can be used for gene therapy. Defatted albumin may be reloaded with aminocaprylic acid to provide a microparticle for binding DNA for parenteral delivery. Microparticles of defatted protein having a modified predetermined fatty acid profile may be used as an enhanced ultrasound contrast agent.

Complex of DNA and microparticle of defatted lipid-binding protein for gene therapy

Platelet substitutes, comprising fibrinogen, or analogous products useful in therapy, which further comprise an insoluble carrier to which is bound an essentially non-degraded active protein including the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp. Such conjugates can be made by a conjugation process comprising 0.01 to 2.5% by weight active fibrinogen, and no more that 50% inactive fibrinogen.

Platelet substitutes and conjugation methods suitable for their

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Nottingham, United Kingdom

Roy Harris