Patent · US Expired

Preparation of further diagnostic agents

US6939530B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
66References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 21, 2002
Grant dateSep 6, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 4, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61K49/223
  • WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Microspheres are prepared by a process comprising (i) spray-drying a solution or dispersion of a wall-forming material in order to obtain intermediate microspheres and (ii) reducing the water-solubility of at least the outside of the intermediate microspheres. Suitable wall-forming materials include proteins such as albumin and gelatin. The microspheres have walls of 40-500 nm thick and are useful in ultrasonic imaging. The control of size, size distribution and degree of insolubilisation and cross-linking of the wall-forming material allows novel microsphere preparations to be produced. In particular, the microspheres may be 15-20 μm, targeted to selected areas of the body or of prolonged life in the circulation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.