University of Nebraska

Avi Biopharma, Inc.

Thomas R Porter

Patrick L Iversen

Feng Xie

Gary D Meyer

The invention relates to a new and improved pharmaceutical composition and method for delivery of therapeutic agents. The methods and composition of the invention can be used with several therapeutic agents and can achieve site specific delivery of a therapeutic or diagnostic substance. This can allow for lower doses and for improved efficacy with drugs which traditionally reach targeted sites and can result in improved utility for agents such as oligonucleotides and polynucleotides which are plagued with problems with biodistribution.

Compositions and methods for altering the biodistribution of biological agents

Microbubble compositions and methods for oligonucleotide delivery

A method for non-invasive detection of vascular endothelial dysfunction using ultrasonic imaging is provided.

Detection of endothelial dysfunction by ultrasonic imaging

A new and improved method for inducing or pacing atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in animals Embodiments of the invention involve using microbubbles enhanced with an insoluble gas in combination with low frequency ultrasound for its pacing activity. The methods and compositions can be used to pace patients, convert patients out of atrial fibrillation, and as a diagnostic to assess a patient's risk for arrhythmias.

Methods for inducing atrial and ventricular rhythms using ultrasound and microbubbles

Targeted site specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotide delivery method

The foregoing invention relates to a new microbubble preparation and thrombolytic therapy which relies on microbubbles and ultrasound for its lytic activity. The pharmaceutical composition of the invention comprises a liquid solution of microbubbles with an internal atmosphere enhanced with the perfluorocarbon gas which cavitate in the presence of an ultrasound field following intravenous injection or infusion of said composition into said host. For thrombolysis the area of a thrombus is exposed to an ultrasound field in the presence of the microbubbles and significant lysis is experienced. The method and pharmaceutical composition of the invention exhibit thrombolytic properties similar to those of other thrombolytic agents such as urokinase and are less toxic and are clot specific in that they do not introduce a systemic lytic state to a said animal.

Thrombolytic agents and methods of treatment for thrombosis

Compositions and methods for altering the biodistribution of biological

An ultrasonic imaging technique is disclosed which uses microbubbles as echo contrast agents. In general the method employs maitenance of an ultrasound signal while the contrast agent is intravenously injected into a mammal. Once all the contrast agent has been injected and transmission of the signal is suspended for a period of time sufficient for the microbubbles perfuse the organ of interest. Transmission of the ultrasound signal is then resumed and peak contrast images are obtained which rival more complicated imaging procedures such as nuclear resonance imaging.

Suspended ultra-sound induced microbubble cavitation imaging

This invention relates to a new and improved pharmaceutical composition and method for delivery of therapeutic or bioactive agents. The methods and composition of the invention can be used with several therapeutic or bioactive agents and can achieve site-specific delivery of a therapeutic or biologically-active substance. This can allow for lower doses and for improved efficacy with drugs, particularly agents such as oligonucleotides which are plagued with problems in achieving therapeutic levels at targeted sites.

The invention relates to a new ultrasound contrast agent of the type which relies on microbubbles for echogenicity. The new contrast agent comprises microbubbles with an internal atmosphere enhanced with a perfluorobutane gas which is effective for visually detecting myocardial uptake upon echocardiogram following peripheral intravenous injection of said agent into a host. The contrast agent of this invention is unique in that it makes possible the non-invasive visual detection of myocardial uptake. In addition, the contrast agent of this invention makes feasible safe and consistent, non-invasive methods for visually assessing, qualitatively or quantitatively, not only myocardial perfusion, but renal and hepatic perfusion, and for detecting severity of coronary arterial stenosis.

Perfluorobutane ultrasound contrast agent and methods for its

The invention relates to a new ultrasound contrast agent of the type which relies on microbubbles for echogenicity. The new contrast agent comprises microbubbles with an internal atmosphere enhanced with a perfluorocarbon gas which is effective for visually detecting myocardial uptake upon echocardiogram following peripheral intravenous injection of said agent into a host. The contrast agent of this invention is unique in that it makes possible the non-invasive visual detection of myocardial uptake. In addition, the contrast agent of this invention makes feasible safe and consistent, non-invasive methods for visually assessing, qualitatively or quantitatively, not only myocardial perfusion, but renal and hepatic perfusion, and for detecting severity of coronary arterial stenosis.

Perfluorocarbon ultrasound contrast agent comprising microbubbles

An ultrasonic imaging technique is disclosed which uses microbubbles as echo contrast agents. In general the method employs maintenance of an ultrasound signal while the contrast agent is intravenously injected into a mammal. Once all the contrast agent has been injected and transmission of the signal is suspended for a period of time sufficient for the microbubbles perfuse the organ of interest. Transmission of the ultrasound signal is then resumed and peak contrast images are obtained which rival more complicated imaging procedures such as nuclear resonance imaging.

Growing community of inventors

Omaha, NE, United States of America

Thomas R Porter