TARGETING MULTIMERIC IMAGING AGENTS THROUGH MULTILOCUS BINDING

摘要

The present invention relates to contrast agents for diagnostic imaging. In particular, this invention relates to novel multimeric compounds which exhib it improved relaxivity properties upon binding to endogenous proteins or other physiologically relevant sites. The compounds consist of: a) two or more Ima ge Enhancing Moieties (IEMs) (or signal-generating moiety) comprising multiple subunits; b) two or more Target Binding Moieties (TBMs), providing for in vi vo localization and multimer rigidification; c) a scaffold framework for attachment of the above moieties; and d) optional linkers for attachment of the IEMs to scaffold. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and to methods of using the compound s and compositions for contrast enhancement of diagnostic imaging.