Magnetically-Controllable Delivery System for Therapeutic Agents

Abstract

A magnetic delivery system for delivering a magnetizable particle to a location in a body, the device includes a magnetizable object implanted in the body, wherein the magnetizable object includes a plurality of segments distributed throughout the magnetizable object and wherein the segments are configured to provide a magnetic gradient for attracting the magnetizable particle and an external source of a magnetic field capable of (i) magnetizing the magnetizable particle and (ii) increasing a degree of magnetization of the magnetizable object and thereby creating the magnetic gradient. A drug delivery system including the magnetic delivery system and a magnetizable particle associated with a therapeutic agent and/or a cell. A cell delivery system based on the magnetic delivery system and a magnetizable particle associated with a cell. A method of using the magnetic delivery system for delivery of a therapeutic agent and/or a cell to a targeted location in a body.

1 .- 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A magnetizable object comprising:
 a plurality of segments adapted and configured to provide a magnetic gradient for attracting a magnetizable particle; and   a coating patterned to provide non-uniform magnetization of a surface of the segments when the magnetizable object is magnetized.   
     
     
         39 . The magnetizable object of  claim 38 , wherein the magnetizable object is in a shape selected from the group consisting of: a cylinder, a cylindrical rod, a cube, a cubical rod, a spring, a circular disc, a mesh, a ring, a wire, a sphere, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The magnetizable object of  claim 38 , wherein the magnetizable object is selected from the group consisting of: a stent, a pacemaker, a catheter, a tube, a vascular graft, an artificial joint, an artificial bone, a prostate seed, an aneurysm coil, a surgical staple, and a suture. 
     
     
         41 . The magnetizable object of  claim 38 , wherein the magnetizable object comprises a cluster of gradient-forming particles, wherein a surface of each gradient-forming particle represents a segment of the magnetizable object. 
     
     
         42 . The magnetizable object of  claim 38 , wherein the magnetizable object comprises one or more metal selected from the group consisting of: cobalt, nickel, iron, manganese, samarium, and neodymium. 
     
     
         43 . The magnetizable object of  claim 38 , wherein the magnetizable object is in a shape of a support made from a material selected from the group consisting of: a metal, a rare earth element, a ceramic, a polymer, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The magnetizable object of  claim 38 , wherein the coating is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: a metal, a rare earth element, a ceramic, a polymer, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         45 . The magnetizable object of  claim 38 , wherein the segments comprise patterns of indentations or ridges. 
     
     
         46 . The magnetizable object of  claim 38 , wherein the segments comprise patterns of materials with different degrees of magnetization. 
     
     
         47 . A system comprising:
 the magnetizable object of  claim 38 ; and   a magnetizable particle.   
     
     
         48 . The magnetic delivery system of  claim 47 , wherein at least one of the magnetizable object and the magnetizable particle is magnetized only in the presence of the external magnetic field. 
     
     
         49 . The magnetic delivery system of  claim 47 , wherein at least one of the magnetizable object and the magnetizable particle is permanently magnetized. 
     
     
         50 . The magnetic delivery system of  claim 47 , wherein magnetization of at least one of the magnetizable object and the magnetizable particle is increased in the presence of the external magnetic field. 
     
     
         51 . The magnetic delivery system of  claim 47 , wherein the magnetizable particle is a superparamagnetic colloidal fluid. 
     
     
         52 . The magnetic delivery system of  claim 47 , wherein the magnetizable particle comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: Fe 2 O 3 , Fe 3 O 4 , FeNi, FePt, Fe, and CoNi alloy. 
     
     
         53 . The magnetic delivery system of  claim 47 , wherein the magnetizable particle comprises a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         54 . The magnetic delivery system of  claim 47 , wherein the magnetizable particle is loaded within a cell, thereby forming a magnetic cell. 
     
     
         55 . A method of using the magnetic delivery system of  claim 38  for delivery of a therapeutic agent, the method comprising:
 providing the external source of the magnetic field; 
 implanting the magnetizable object in the body, wherein the magnetizable object includes a plurality of segments distributed throughout the magnetizable object and wherein the segments are configured to provide a magnetic gradient for attracting a magnetizable particle comprising a therapeutic agent; and 
 providing an external magnetic field by initializing the external source and thereby (i) magnetizing the magnetizable particle and (ii) increasing the degree of magnetization the magnetizable object and thereby creating the magnetic gradient for attracting and advancing the magnetizable particle toward the magnetizable object. 
 
     
     
         56 . A method of using the magnetic delivery system of  claim 38  for delivery of a cell to a body, the method comprising:
 providing the external source of the magnetic field; 
 implanting the magnetizable object in the body, wherein the magnetizable object includes a plurality of segments distributed throughout the magnetizable object and wherein the segments are configured to provide a magnetic gradient for attracting a magnetizable particle comprising a therapeutic agent; 
 administering the magnetizable particle loaded within the cell to the body; 
 providing an external magnetic field by initializing the external source and thereby (i) magnetizing the magnetizable particle and (ii) increasing the degree of magnetization the magnetizable object and thereby creating the magnetic gradient; and attracting and advancing the magnetizable particle toward the magnetizable object using the magnetic gradient and thereby delivering the cell to the location in the body. 
 
     
     
         57 . A method of simultaneously producing far-penetrating magnetic fields that have strong magnetic field gradients, the method comprising producing strong and highly localized field gradients inside the body utilizing a two source system comprising (1) a magnetizable object implanted in a body as an internal source of a magnetic gradient and (2) an external source of a magnetic field.