Technology

Targeson’s technology encompasses microscopic spheres that greatly enhance the ultrasound imaging signal. Targeson has nano-engineered  these microspheres to detect molecular markers of disease through a technique known as molecular imaging. The agents are gas-encapsulated spheres that, when coated with specific targeting ligand molecules, can adhere to molecular markers of disease. This enables Targeson’s agents to bind to, for example, newly formed blood vessels (angiogenesis) supporting the growth of cancer cells within the body. Ultrasound imaging is then used to detect the targeted agents, and thus to identify and quantify the disease.

This technique can be used to diagnose and stage disease, and monitor response to therapy initially in the drug discovery and research markets, as well as in the clinical in vivo diagnostic testing markets. Targeson’s versatile technology enables molecular imaging of a wide variety of disease states. Successful use of ultrasound molecular imaging requires a stable contrast agent that can achieve robust adhesion to a wide range of molecular targets. The effectiveness of microsphere retention to the target surface depends upon the force exerted by flowing blood on the adherent microbubble, and the number of target–ligand bonds that are formed. Targeson has developed proprietary targeting strategies that enable robust, high-efficiency retention of the attached, targeted microsphere in the blood stream. The microsphere is able to undergo a slight deformation upon binding to the molecular target, leading to enhanced adhesion stability.

The company has also developed proprietary multi-ligand targeting strategies that enable high-efficiency retention to molecular targets, which enable adhesion with enhanced specificity. Targeson has developed the ability to coat the microbubble with the indication-appropriate ligand covalently bound to the sphere surface, which offers the future potential ability for the agents to be used in clinical indications.
 
Targeson is also conducting investigations to expand its platform technology with applications in optical imaging and sonofection. For optical imaging, the company has developed a method for coating the agents with near-infrared fluorophores for detection by optical imaging and fluorescence microscopy using existing optical imaging scanners. In the area of sonofection, Targeson is investigating its microsphere technology as a means to transfect genes and siRNA (sonofection), targeting transfection on the cellular level.