A novel class of material has been discovered that exhibits non-magnetic behavior in its native (sub SOA) state, but when assembled into clusters of above 500A in diameter exhibits superparamagnetic behavior. Materials of this type can be prepared as biodegradable 500A clusters, injected into patients and used as safe, non-toxic, degradable MRI contrast agents. A research program will utilize these magnetic clusters as agents for MRI contrast, to build clusters of various sizes for size exclusion delivery to specific organs for contrasting in MRI and to study the 6OHz and RP magnetic field response of these clusters vs. cluster size, time, pH and temperature. We acknowledge the need for in vivo testing to determine the viability of this research, and while such a program is not feasible within the limits of Phase I, a biological analysis of candidate materials will be conducted and a strategic plan for accomplishing in vivo testing is in place. Based upon a successful Phase I, we have already entered into research collaboration agreements with significant international pharmaceutical companies and research centers that have the ability and intent to conduct in vivo testing in animals.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:Commercial applications for the research include: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, size exclusion targeted delivery of magnetic materials in vivo, and ultrasound imaging.National Cancer Institute (NCI)
