New Targeted Ultrasound Contrast Agent for Molecular Imaging Introduced by Targeson
La Jolla, CA – August 1, 2009- Targeson announced the introduction of TargestarTM SA, a targeted ultrasound contrast agent for use in preclinical drug discovery and basic science research. Targestar SA agents are echogenic lipid microbubbles bearing streptavidin on the shell surface. Targestar SA enables a convenient, single step conjugation of biotinylated antibodies, peptides or small molecules specific for molecular markers of disease. The agent is useful for diverse ultrasound molecular imaging applications such as tumor angiogenesis, myocardial infarction, thrombosis, atherosclerosis and other preclinical models of disease. Targestar SA can be used with most clinical and research ultrasound scanners. Agent echogenicity is optimal at ultrasound frequencies in the 1-20 MHz range, and ultra-high frequency imaging (20-40 MHz) is also possible.
Contrast ultrasound imaging is emerging as an effective imaging technique in basic science and the drug discovery process. This imaging method is inexpensive, portable, and permits anatomical and functional imaging in real time. Targeted molecular imaging provides a convenient and noninvasive technique for characterizing biological processes in vivo and monitoring responses to therapeutic interventions. Targeson’s targeted contrast agent products enable researchers to expand the use of existing ultrasound scanners into molecular and functional imaging.
About Targeson
Targeson, Inc. (www.targeson.com) develops, manufactures, and markets ultrasound imaging agents for preclinical functional and molecular imaging applications. The company’s contrast agent technologies enable researchers to quantify microvascular perfusion and characterize diseases at the molecular level using portable and cost-efficient ultrasound ultrasound imaging. Targeson also currently offers:
Targestar-P, a non-targeted ultrasound contrast agent designed to enhance contrast in the vasculature and can be used to image and quantify blood flow and vascular function.
Targestar-B, a targeted ultrasound contrast agent coated with biotin, enabling conjugation of a vast array of targeting ligands to the agent using standard biotin-avidin coupling chemistry. It can be used for diverse molecular imaging applications, including tumor angiogenesis, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular plaque, thrombosis, organ transplant rejection, and inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammatory disorders.