US 11,738,098 B2
Contrast agents, methods for preparing contrast agents, and methods of imaging
Jenny Jie Yang, Atlanta, GA (US); Zhiren Liu, Atlanta, GA (US); Jie Jiang, Atlanta, GA (US); Shenghui Xue, Atlanta, GA (US); Jinjuan Qiao, Atlanta, GA (US); and Mani Salarian, Decatur, GA (US)
Assigned to Georgia State University Research Foundation, Inc., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Georgia State University Research Foundation, Inc., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/68,215.
Application 17/068,215 is a continuation of application No. 15/910,893, filed on Mar. 2, 2018, granted, now 10,849,993.
Application 15/910,893 is a continuation of application No. 12/935,413, abandoned, previously published as PCT/US2009/039276, filed on Apr. 2, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/041,693, filed on Apr. 2, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2021/0038745 A1, Feb. 11, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61K 49/14 (2006.01); A61K 49/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61K 49/14 (2013.01) [A61K 49/126 (2013.01); A61K 49/143 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
 
1. A contrast agent comprising a modified parvalbumin scaffold polypeptide, wherein one or more amino acids of the scaffold polypeptide form at least one paramagnetic metal ion chelating site, and further comprising a paramagnetic metal ion bound to at least two of the amino acids forming the at least one paramagnetic metal ion chelating site,
wherein the modified parvalbumin scaffold polypeptide has at least one amino acid substitution that modifies at least one of the metal selectivity of the binding site, increases binding affinity for the metal, or increases serum stability of the contrast agent, and wherein the at least one amino acid substitution is selected from the group consisting of S56D, E60D, G99D, and F103W, wherein the amino acid positions are numbered according to SEQ ID NO: 38, and wherein the modified parvalbumin scaffold polypeptide having the paramagnetic metal ion bound thereto is detectable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and
further comprising a targeting agent attached to the polypeptide, wherein the targeting agent targets a growth factor receptor.