Shielded Targeting Agents, Methods, and In Vivo Diagnostic System

Abstract

A system is provided which includes nanoparticle conjugates configured to bind with a tumor cell, the nanoparticle conjugate comprising a nanoparticle, at least one targeting entity bound to the nanoparticle, and at least one shielding entity that shields at the at least one targeting entity, the nanoparticle, or both; a body-mountable device mounted on an external surface of a living body and configured to detect a tumor cell binding response signal transmitted through the external surface, wherein the tumor cell binding response signal is related to binding of the nanoparticle conjugates with one or more tumor cells; and a processor configured to non-invasively detect the one or more tumor cells based on the tumor cell response signal. Nanoparticle conjugates and methods for use for treating or imaging tumor cells are also provided.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for killing or inhibiting the growth of tumor cells or tissue in a mammal, said method comprising administering an effective amount of the nanoparticle conjugate of claim  1  to said mammal, wherein the targeting entity is specific for a marker that is specifically expressed by the tumor cells or tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of imaging the cells or tissue with a non-invasive imaging technique that has a resolution enhanced by the presence of the conjugate on or within the cells. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of nanoparticle conjugates, each nanoparticle conjugate comprising a nanoparticle, at least one targeting entity bound to the nanoparticle and configured to bind with a tumor cell, and at least one shielding entity that shields the at least one targeting entity, the nanoparticle, or both;   a body-mountable device, wherein the body-mountable device is mountable on an external surface of a living body and configured to detect a tumor cell binding response signal transmitted through the external surface of the living body, wherein the tumor cell binding response signal is related to binding of the nanoparticle conjugates with one or more tumor cells; and   a processor configured to non-invasively detect the one or more tumor cells based on the tumor cell response signal.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the body-mountable device comprises a detector for detecting the tumor cell response signal. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a modulation source configured to modulate the tumor cell response signal differently than a background signal. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the body-mountable device includes the modulation source. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to differentiate the tumor cell response signal from the background signal based, at least in part, on the modulation by the modulation source. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising an interrogating signal source, the tumor cell response signal being transmitted in response to the interrogating signal. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the modulation source is configured to modulate the tumor cell response signal by modulating the interrogating signal source. 
     
     
         26 . A method comprising:
 introducing a plurality of nanoparticle conjugates into an environment, each nanoparticle conjugate comprising a nanoparticle, at least one targeting entity bound to the nanoparticle and configured to bind with a tumor cell, and at least one shielding entity configured to shield the nanoparticle, the at least one targeting entity, or both;   detecting a response signal transmitted from the environment, wherein the response signal includes a tumor cell response signal that is related to binding of the nanoparticle conjugates to tumor cells and wherein the response signal is modulated; and   detecting one or more tumor cells by differentiating the response signal from a background signal, at least in part, based on the modulation.