Johns Hopkins University

Kennedy Krieger Institute, Inc.

The United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Xiaolei Song

Michael T McMahon

Martin Gilbert Pomper

Sangeeta Ray

Xing Yang

Nikita Oskolkov

Joel Patrick Schneider

Sridhar Nimmagadda

Assaf A Gilad

Jiadi Xu

Wojciech Lesniak

Jeff W M Bulte

Michael Christopher Giano

Kannie Wai-Yan Chan

The present invention provides novel hydrogels through peptides, which are designed to self-assemble and produce magnetic resonance (MR) contrast through chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST). The location and integrity of these gels could consequently be tracked using MR imaging. The self-assembly of the peptides into hydrogels can be brought about by a change in pH, ionic strength, temperature, and concentration of ions.

Peptide hydrogels generating chemical exchange saturation transfer MRI contrast and uses thereof

PAMAM dendrimer based CEST imaging agents, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same and methods of uses thereof are disclosed.

PAMAM dendrimer based CEST imaging agents and uses thereof

Salicylic acid-based polymeric CEST contrast agents targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen, pharmaceutical composition comprising the same and methods of use thereof are disclosed.

Salicylic acid-based polymeric CEST contrast agents targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen and uses thereof

A novel approach for CEST MR imaging is called Multi-echo Length and Offset VARied Saturation (Me-LOVARS) CEST. This method allows efficient collection of additional CEST data without penalty in scan time, which could be useful for enhancing the contrast, increasing the specificity or improving quantification of exchange. As CEST-MRI has shown promise at both the pre-clinical and clinical levels, including for detecting and grading brain tumors and evaluating ischemia, using either endogenous CEST contrast or through administration of CEST contrast agents. This fast and robust imaging method is suitable for accelerating image collection and widening the scope of applications for CEST-MRI.

Multi-echo length and offset varied saturation (Me-LOVARS) method for chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MR imaging

CEST MR imaging, called Multi-echo Parametric VARiation Saturation (Me-PaVARS) CEST places multiple image readouts in between a series of saturation pulses. The saturation pulse parameters are varied in a designated systematic pattern, which allows the generation of CEST contrast maps by encoding the patterns of signal loss into the images for better discrimination between various CEST imaging agents. The saturation parameter changes include, but are not limited to, saturation amplitude (B), saturation length (t), number of pulses, shape of saturation pulses, amplitude of saturation pulses, saturation offset frequency, or a combination of these variations.

Multi-echo parametric variation saturation (MePaVARS CEST imaging and other MR imaging

Compositions and methods for chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or frequency labeled exchange (FLEX) imaging are disclosed. Beta-hydroxycarboxylate and beta-aminocarboxylate derivatives including salicylic acid, salicylates, salicylic acid prodrugs, N-alkyl/aryl/acyl/sulfonyl-anthranilic acid analogs, and any aromatic compound with OH/NH group ortho to the carboxylic acid group are disclosed. Such compounds can be used as general MRI organic contrast agents and produce significantly improved contrast in MR images detectable through CEST or FLEX.

Compositions and methods for chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a method for obtaining a magnetic resonance image (MRI) or spectrum. The method includes a step of performing a chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) or magnetization transfer (MT) magnetic labeling experiment of a subject using an MRI machine. When performing the CEST or MT magnetic labeling experiment aspects of a saturation pulse or a serial saturation pulse sequence, such as length (t), number (N), offset (&#x394;&#x3c9;), modulation frequency (&#x3c9;) and power (B) can be varied in specific-designed schemes. Data is generated from the CEST magnetic labeling experiment and is transmitted to a data processing unit. The data is processed to generate a visual representation of the data.

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Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Xiaolei Song