Abstract: This invention relates to a freeze-dried vesicle containing ultrasound contrast agent containing a freeze-drying stabilizer and thermally stable at temperatures in excess of 20° C.

Abstract: Novel membrane-forming amphiphilic lipopeptides comprising one or more peptide moieties containing 2-50 aminoacyl residues and one or more hydrocarbon chains containing 5-50 carbon atoms. Such lipopeptides may be used in the formation of stabilized gas microbubble dispersions suitable for use as diagnostic and/or therapeutic agents, for example as ultrasound contrast agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of contrast enhanced ultrasonic diagnostic imaging comprising administering to a subject a contrast enhancing amount of spherical particles comprising a matrix enclosing a gaseous contrast agent which reflects sound waves, said matrix being a biocompatible, biodegradable, non-immunogenic non-polyamino acid synthetic polymer; and generating an ultrasonic image of said subject. The polymer may be selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, carbohydrate derivatives and non-polyamino acid synthetic polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of particulate materials as contrast agents in in vivo light imaging.

Abstract: To lessen the allergic or pseudoallergic side effects of radiological contrast agents, the contrast agent is preincubated in vitro with a reactive medium such as human or animal blood protein, whereupon the resultant reaction products are separated off from the contrast agent by ultrafiltration.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of gas-containing vesicles the membranes whereof comprise an amphiphilic membrane-forming material, said process comprising: (i) generating a liquid dispersion of gas-containing vesicles from a mixture comprising an amphiphilic membrane forming material; (ii) lyophilizing a liquid dispersion of said gas-containing vesicles; (iii) reconstituting the lyophilized product of step (ii) with a sterile aqueous liquid to produce an aqueous dispersion of gas-containing vesicles; and (iv) treating the aqueous dispersion product of step (iii) or the lyophilized product of step (ii) to produce a substantially aggregate-free sterile aqueous dispersion of gas-containing vesicles.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved process for the synthesis of compounds carrying at least one phosphate group, especially polyalkylene glycol phosphate compounds, said process comprising the steps of: (a) reacting a compound containing at least one primary alcohol moiety with a diaryl- or diaralkyl-halophosphate whereby to form the corresponding diaryl- or diaralkyl-phosphate ester; (b) reductively cleaving the resulting product; and (c) if desired, repeating steps (a) and (b) with the product of step (b) whereby to produce a compound carrying two or more phosphate groups. Advantages of the process in accordance with the invention are that this avoids the production of by-products and results in products which are low in impurities. Also provided are novel diaryl- and diaralkyl-phosphate ester compounds, in particular polyethylene glycol diphenylphosphate ester and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A method of treatment of a human or animal body by sonodynamic therapy in which a sensitizer agent is administered to the body and the body is exposed to ultrasound to achieve a cytopathogenic effect at a site therein, wherein the said sensitizer agent is a physiologically tolerable substance which is capable of enhancing the cytopathogenic efficacy of said sonodynamic therapy. Preferably, the sensitizer agent is a water-soluble polymer compound or a conjugate thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of magnetic resonance investigation of a sample, preferably of a human or non-human animal body. The method comprises the step of ex vivo polarization of a high T1 agent. The polarizing agent is optionally separated from the high T1 agent before the high T1 agent is administered to the sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of magnetic imaging (MR) of a living sample comprising the steps of hyperpolarizing a hyperpolarizable gas ex-vivo and transferring the nuclear polarization from the hyperpolarized gas to the nuclei of an MR imaging agent, that is not hyperpolarizable, that is exposed to a uniform magnetic field and that is introduced in contact to the hyperpolarizable gas, separating the hyperpolarizable gas from the MR imaging agent, administering the MR imaging agent to the living sample, exciting NMR transitions in the nuclei of the imaging agent and detecting an NMR signal thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides low viscosity iodinated aryl compounds, useful as X-ray contrast agents of formula I wherein n is 0 or 1, and where n is 1 each C6R5 moiety may be the same or different; X denotes a bond or a group providing a 1 to 7 atom chain linking two C6R5 moieties or, where n is 0, X denotes a group R; each group R is a hydrogen atom, an iodine atom or a hydrophilic moiety M or M1, two or three non-adjacent R groups in each C6R5 moiety being iodine and at least one R group in each C6R5 moiety being an M or M1 moiety; each M which may be the same or different, is a non-ionic hydrophilic moiety; and each M1 independently represents a —CHOHCON(R1)2 group wherein each R1, which may be the same or different, is a hydrogen atom, an OH group or a C1-6 alkoxy or optionally hydroxylated C1-5 alkyl group; at least one R group in the molecule being an M1 moiety; and isomers thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates inter alia to a method of generating information from an animate human or non-human animal body which method comprises: administering to said body a physiologically tolerable material capable of absorbing, scattering or emitting light at a wavelength in the range 300 to 1300 nm; subjecting at least a portion of said body to ultrasound irradiation; detecting light in the wavelength range 300 to 1300 nm from said portion of said body; and manipulating the detected light to generate said information.

Abstract: The invention relates to MR contrast media containing composite nanoparticles, preferably comprising a superparamagnetic iron oxide core provided with a coating comprising an oxidatively cleaved starch coating optionally together with a functionalized polyalkyleneoxide which serves to prolong blood residence.

Abstract: Chelating agents, in particular dipyridoxyl and aminopolycarboxylic acid based chelating agents, and their metal chelates, when linked directly or indirectly to at least one nitric oxide releasing moiety, or when use in combination with nitric oxide or a nitric oxide releasing moiety have been found to be effective in treating a variety of disorders. In particular, such compounds may be used in treating conditions associated with the presence of free radicals in the body, e.g. reperfusion injuries, and in reducing the cardiotoxicity of anti-tumor agents, e.g. anthracyclines and/or paclitaxel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of contrast agent-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of perfusion in vasculated tissue within a human or non-human animal body in which a bolus comprising a contrast-enhancing amount of a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent is administered into the vascular system of said body, and said body is subjected to a magnetic resonance imaging procedure whereby signals or images representative of first pass of said contrast agent bolus through tissue of interest are generated, characterised in that (i) said contrast agent is capable of exhibiting simultaneous, determinable T1 and T2* reducing effects under the imaging procedure employed and (ii) a T1-weighted imaging procedure is used (a) to visualise the first pass of said contrast agent bolus through said tissue by virtue of its signal lowering T2* effect and (b) to obtain a T1-weighted contrast agent-enhanced image of said tissue.