NON-COVALENT BIOCONJUGATES USEFUL FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY

摘要

A composition comprising non-covalent carrier-hapten bioconjugates having the formula HM-----CM wherein HM is a hapten molecule whose molecular weight is generally, but not always, less than 1000 Daltons and is capable of performing specific functions; CM is a carrier molecule, whose molecular weight is generally, but not always, more than 1000 Daltons and is capable of transporting the hapten to a specific site; and the dashed line is a non-covalent bond between the carrier molecule and the hapten molecule. Preferably, the bioconjugates are formed from fluorescent dye haptens such as cyanine, indocyanine, squaraine, porphyrrins, Rose Bengal, and methylene blue dye and carrier molecules such as methylated serum albumin, polyarginine, polyaspartic acid, polyglutamic acid, cyclodextrin, and inulin. The bioconjugates are useful in diagnostic and therapeutic medical procedures because they are stable in vitro before being used and stable in vivo during and after use.