Contrast agents

Abstract

The present invention provides contrast agents for use in diagnostic ultrasound studies comprising microbubbles of gas or a gas precursor encapsulated by non-proteinaceous crosslinked or polymerised amphiphilic moieties.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . Vesicles comprising a flexible non-proteinaceous amphiphilic polymer material capable of formation of gas-containing vesicles, said vesicles containing a biocompatible fluorinated hydrocarbon being in gaseous form at 37° C.  
     
     
         21 . Vesicles as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said polymer material comprises units selected from the group consisting of lacithins, polyglycerols, polyoxyethylene glycols, polyoxethylene glycol ethers, polyoxyethylene derivatized steroids, glycosides, galactosides, hydroxyacids, polyhydroxyacids, carbohydrates, aminoalcohols, cyanoacrylates, acrylamides and hydroxyamides.  
     
     
         22 . Vesicles as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said polymer material comprises lipophilically derivatized polyoxyethylene glycol units.  
     
     
         23 . Vesicles as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said hydrocarbon is perfluorinated.  
     
     
         24 . Vesicles as claimed in  claim 20 , having an average size of 0.1-10 μm.  
     
     
         25 . Vesicles as claimed in  claim 24 , having an average size of 1-7 μm.  
     
     
         26 . An aqueous dispersion comprising vesicles as claimed in  claim 20 .  
     
     
         27 . An aqueous dispersion comprising vesicles as claimed in  claim 21 .  
     
     
         28 . An aqueous dispersion comprising vesicles as claimed in  claim 22 .  
     
     
         29 . An aqueous dispersion comprising vesicles as claimed in  claim 23 .  
     
     
         30 . An aqueous dispersion comprising vesicles as claimed in  claim 24 .  
     
     
         31 . An aqueous dispersion comprising vesicles as claimed in  claim 25 .  
     
     
         32 . A diagnostic ultrasound contrast agent comprising vesicles as claimed in  claim 20 .  
     
     
         33 . A contrast agent as claimed in  claim 32  having a half-life in vivo of not more than 48 hours.  
     
     
         34 . A contrast agent as claimed in  claim 33  having a half-life in vivo of 1 to 12 hours.  
     
     
         35 . A contrast agent as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein said vesicles are dispersed in an aqueous carrier.  
     
     
         36 . An oil-in-water emulsion consisting essentially of a volatile hydrocarbon encapsulated by flexible non-proteinaceous amphiphilic polymer material.  
     
     
         37 . An emulsion as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein said volatile hydrocarbon is a pentane.  
     
     
         38 . An emulsion as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein said volatile hydrocarbon is fluorinated.  
     
     
         39 . An emulsion as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein said volatile hydrocarbon in perfluorinated.  
     
     
         40 . An emulsion as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein said polymer material comprises units selected from the group consisting of lecithins, polyglycerols, polyoxyethylene glycols, polyoxethylene glycol ethers, polyoxyethylene derivatized steroids, glycosides, galactosides, hydroxyacids, polyhydroxyacids, carbohydrates, aminoalcohols, cyanoacrylates, acrylamides and hydroxyamides.  
     
     
         41 . An emulsion as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein said polymer material comprises lipophilically derivatized polyoxyethylene glycol units.  
     
     
         42 . Vesicles as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said units are lipophilically derivatized.  
     
     
         43 . An emulsion as claimed in 40, wherein said units are lipophilically derivatized.