Method and Composition of Stable Echogenic Nanoemulsions for Ultrasound-Mediated Chemotherapy and Ultrasound and MR Imaging of Solid Tumors

University of Utah Technology Commercialization Office
posted on 02/09/2010

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Reference Number: U-4764

Invention Description:

Drug encapsulation approach is widely used to address issues of side effects and drug deactivation during chemotherapy treatment. This technology describes new perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions for the drug encapsulation in combination with ultrasound for successful drug realize at the target site. In particular, a new formulation of nanoemulsions has been developed where a core of a nanoemulsion droplet consists of perfluorocabon and walls from biodegradable block copolymers. Upon accumulation of drug-loaded nanoemulsions at the tumor site and subsequent use of ultrasound, nanoemulsions readily form microbubbles which make them excellent drug delivery and imaging agents.

Market Applications:

The developed nanoemulsion formulations are remarkably stable, ultrasound responsive and imaging agents that can be used as drug delivery devices for solid tumors treatment.

Features, Benefit & Advantages:

· Developed nanoemulsions formulations have high thermal stability, excellent shelf life, straightforward to manufacture and handle, echogenic, and biodigradable

· Ultrasound-mediated targeted chemotherapy of solid tumors

· Ultrasound and MRI imaging by using novel nanoemulsions

· The chemotherapy treatment using these drug-loaded nanoemulsions maybe combined with radiation therapy

Intellectual Property: A provisional patent application has been filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Development Stage:

This technology is part of an active and ongoing research program and has been demonstrated to work in proof-of-concept experiments, includes a working prototype and has been validated in animal experiments.  It is available for developmental research support and licensing under either exclusive or non-exclusive terms.

Related Research & Publications:

Dr. Rapoport's web page: http://www.bioen.utah.edu/faculty/nyr/index.htm

Key Words: Drug delivery, nanodroplet, microbubble, ultrasound and MRI imaging, solid tumors and cancers