T-020196 CD163 Targeting Agent for Imaging and Therapy
Technology Description
Researchers in Yongjian Liu’s laboratory at Washington University have synthesized a new peptide-based CD163 radiotracer. CD163 is a well-known biomarker specific to macrophages implicated in multiple diseases, but no suitable PET tracer has been developed to date.
The radiotracer has IC50 values in low nanomolar ranges based on in vitro assays of cells over-expressing CD163. In vivo pharmacokinetics indicate that the tracer showed effective renal clearance and low retention in most organs, with blood pool organs (blood, heart, lung) having less than 0.5% ID/gram retention at 1h post injection and less than 2% ID/gram for the liver at all times.
Demonstration of the CD163 tracer in an atherosclerosis mouse model (ApoE-/-) on a high fat diet, with significantly elevated uptake at the aortic arch at 10 & 18 weeks, suggesting sensitivity of the tracer to track aggravated plaques.
Stage of Research
Currently carrying out imaging efficiency studies in vivo with several mouse models. Good efficacy identified for atherosclerosis, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma models. Other tracers of CD163 in preliminary development.
Publications
Manuscript in submission.
Applications
- PET imaging – atherosclerosis, oncology, and other diseases pertaining to CD163.
Key Advantages
- No known molecular agent for CD163 targeting.
Patents
- Provisional filed.
