Hypoosmotic Solutions for Lymph Node Detection

Abstract

Provided are compositions for rapid detection of lymph nodes. The compositions include magnetic particles, such as iron oxide, and a solute present in an amount that results in a hypoosomotic solution. Methods for detecting lymph nodes also are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hypoosmotic suspension for medical injection comprising:
 about 13 mg/mL to about 200 mg/mL of superparamagnetic particles; and   an osmolyte selected from either about 0.01% w/v to about 0.6% w/v of an inorganic salt or about 0.5% w/v to about 1.5% w/v of a glycol.   
     
     
         2 . The hypoosmotic suspension of  claim 1 , wherein the superparamagnetic particles are iron oxide. 
     
     
         3 . The hypoosmotic suspension of  claim 1 , comprising about 13 mg/mL of superparamagnetic particles. 
     
     
         4 . The hypoosmotic suspension of  claim 1 , further comprising an excipient. 
     
     
         5 . The hypoosmotic suspension of  claim 1  wherein the superparamagnetic particles are coated. 
     
     
         6 . The hypoosmotic suspension of  claim 5 , wherein the coating comprises dextran. The hypoosmotic suspension of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic salt is sodium chloride. 
     
     
         8 . The hypoosmotic suspension of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension is used for the detection of sentinel nodes and comprises about 0.05%-0.3% w/v of the inorganic salt. 
     
     
         9 . The hypoosmotic suspension of  claim 1 , wherein the glycol is propylene glycol. 
     
     
         10 . The hypoosmotic suspension of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension is used for magnetic hyperthermia treatment and comprises about 20 mg/ml-200 mg/ml of the superparamagnetic particles. 
     
     
         11 . A method of locating a lymph node in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing the hypoosmotic suspension of  claim 1 ;   injecting the hypoosmotic suspension into the patient;   waiting until the superparamagnetic particles become entrapped in a lymph node; and   detecting the location of the lymph node by detecting the location of the superparamagnetic particles.   
     
     
         12 . A method of locating a lymph node in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a hypoosmotic suspension of  claim 1  comprising superparamagnetic particles;   injecting the hypoosmotic suspension into the patient; and   detecting a lymph node within 10 minutes of injection by detecting the location of the superparamagnetic particles, the detecting sufficient to immediately begin a medical procedure on the lymph node based on the detecting.   
     
     
         13 . A method of treating a patient using magnetic hyperthermia, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing the hypoosmotic suspension of  claim 1 ;   injecting the hypoosmotic suspension into the patient; and   exposing the patient to an alternating magnetic field.   
     
     
         14 . The hypoosmotic suspension of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, ammonium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate, potassium acetate, and sodium acetate.