1. WO/2010/052474, Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Labelled Cells, (Filing Date: 06.11.2009, Pub. Date: 14.05.2010)
2. WO/2010/052471, Apparatus and Method for the Detection of Cells, (Filing Date: 06.11.2009, Pub. Date: 14.05.2010)

The University of Dundee is seeking a partner to develop and/or licence the technologies set out in one or two patent applications short details of which are set out below. Due to time and budgetary constraints the window of opportunity in relation to this is restricted with deadlines of 6 May 2011 and 6 June 2011 for continuing patent prosecution. Further details relating to the status of the patent application and this proposal can be obtained from:

Ron Jenkins,
Research and Innovation Services,
University of Dundee
E:

1. WO/2010/052474, Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Labelled Cells
   Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining a magnetic resonance image of a sample by applying a radio frequency signal to a sample containing magnetically labelled cells or tissues in order to heat the magnetically labelled cells or tissues and applying a sequence of radio frequency pulses to the sample to obtain magnetic resonance signals from the sample. Heating the magnetically labelled cells or tissues causes them to function as positive contrast agents providing positive image contrast in an image generated from the magnetic resonance signals.
   
   Possible applications: Cancer diagnosis and detection, lymph node staging, and cellular magnetic resonance imaging, stem cell therapy for cell tracking/homing.
   
   Possible benefits: Using the invention, existing clinical approved MRI contrast agents such as superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) could be turned (from present negative contrast enhancement, i.e., agents appears darker in the MRI images) into positive contract enhancement (e.g., using MRI thermometry). This would enable more sensitive and accurate detection of cancers, in particular micro-metastasis nodes. Tracking individual labelled cells (such as stem cells) in a positive contrast enhanced imaging would have advantages such as locating stem cells homing.
   
   
2. WO/2010/052471, Apparatus and Method for the Detection of Cells
   Abstract: An apparatus and method for in-vivo detection of magnetically labelled biological molecules or cells, located in a flowing medium in a human or animal body such as the blood stream. The apparatus provides a magnetic field to a region of interest inside the body in order to attract the magnetically labelled biological molecules or cells to the region of interest. A second magnetic field provides a variable magnetic field to the region of interest and which transfers energy to the magnetically labelled biological molecules or cells. A detector detects changes in the electromagnetic energy emitted by the labelled cells in response to the variable magnetic field generated by the second magnetic field source and provides a quantitative or qualitative measure of the magnetically labelled biological molecules or cells. The energy detected may be infra-red energy.
   
   Possible applications: Detecting/counting of patient’s circulating tumor cells (CTCs) for diagnosis of cancer metastasis and/or assessment/prediction of patient’s survival after therapy.
   
   Advantages and benefits: Non-invasive (the apparatus is located external to the patient body close to any superficial blood vessels such as on the wrist); Sensitive and portable (since the invention is to detect the CTCs in-vivo for the patient’s whole blood volume, as compared to the existing test of counting CTCs in lab from patient’s blood sample of 7.5mL); The higher sensitivity of the invention would provide early detection/diagnosis of cancer metastasis, thus enable early patients’ therapy/treatment and improve their survival probability.