text:
Microspheres are prepared by a process comprising (i) spray-drying a solution or dispersion of a wall-forming material in order to obtain intermediate microspheres and (ii) reducing the water-solubility of at least the outside of the intermediate microspheres. Suitable wall-forming materials include proteins such as albumin and gelatin. The microspheres have walls of 40-500 nm thick and are useful in ultrasonic imaging. The control of size, size distribution and degree of insolubilisation and cross-linking of the wall-forming material allows novel microsphere preparations to be produced. In particular, the microspheres may be 15-20 μm, targeted to selected areas of the body or of prolonged life in the circulation.
1. Hollow microspheres in which more than 30% of the microspheres have a diameter within a 2 μm range and at least 90% have a diameter within the range 10.1 to 19.9 μm.
2. Hollow microspheres in which the interquartile range of diameters is 2 μm or less and the median diameter is between 10.1 μm and 19.9 μm inclusive.
3. Hollow microspheres with proteinaceous walls in which at least 90% of the microspheres have a diameter in the range 1.0-8.0 μm; at least 90% of the microspheres have a wall thickness of 40-500 nm; at least 50% of the protein in the walls of the microspheres is so cross-linked as to be resistant to extraction in 1% HCl for 2 mins; and the microspheres either have an in vivo t�, of at least 5 minutes or are adapted for selective targeting to an area of the human or animal body.
4. Hollow microspheres according to
5. Hollow microspheres predominantly of 1.0-10.0 μm in diameter, at least 10% of the microspheres, when suspended in water, being capable of surviving a 0.25 s application of a pressure of 2.66�104 Pa without bursting, collapsing or filling with water, wherein the microspheres either have an in vivo t� of at least 5 minutes or are adapted for selective targeting to an area of the human or animal body.
6. Hollow microspheres in which more than 30% of the microspheres have a diameter within a 2 μm range and at least 90% have a diameter within the range 1.0-8.0 μm, and the microspheres either have an in vivo t� of at least 5 minutes or are adapted for selective targeting to an area of the human or animal body.
7. Hollow microspheres in which the interquartile range of diameters is 2 μm or less, the median diameter is between 2.0 μm and 8.0 μm inclusive and the microspheres either have an in vivo t� of at least 5 minutes or are adapted for selective targeting to an area of the human or animal body.
8. A method of generating an image for subsequent inspection, comprising (a) injecting into the body of a mammal microspheres according to
9. A pharmaceutical composition suitable for intra-arterial administration, comprising hollow microspheres predominantly of diameter 10.1 to 19.9 μm.
10. A method of generating an image for subsequent inspection, comprising (a) injecting into the body of a mammal microspheres predominantly of diameter 10.1-19.9 μm, (b) subjecting the mammal or part thereof to suitable ultrasonic radiation and (c) detecting ultrasonic radiation reflected, transmitted, resonated or frequency modulated by the said microspheres.
11. A process comprising the step of atomising a solution or dispersion of a wall-forming material in a liquid carrier into a gas in order to obtain hollow microspheres by evaporation of the liquid carrier, wherein the microspheres are of 10.1-19.9 μm diameter, or have a human circulation of at least 5 minutes, or are adapted for selective targeting to an area of the human or animal body.
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20. Microspheres obtained by a process according to
21. Microspheres obtainable by a process according to
The present invention relates to the preparation of diagnostic agents comprising hollow microcapsules used to enhance ultrasound imaging.
The fact that air bubbles in the body can be used for echocardiography has been known for some time. Bubble-containing liquids can be injected into the bloodstream for this purpose (see Ophir et al (1980) "Ultrasonic Imaging" 2, 67-77, who stabilised bubbles in a collagen membrane, U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,442 (Schering) and EP-A-131 540 (Schering)) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,433, U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,958 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,882 disclose the use of bubbles prepared by sonicating an albumin solution. However, the size distribution of the bubbles is apparently uncontrollable and the bubbles disappear when subjected to pressure experienced in the left ventricle (Shapiro et al (1990) J. Am. Coll. Cardiology, 16(7), 1603-1607).
EP-A-52575 discloses, for the same purpose, solid particles which have gas entrained in them, the gas being released from the particles in the bloodstream.
EP 458 745 (Sintetica) discloses a process of preparing air- or gas-filled microballoons by interfacial polymerisation of synthetic polymers such as polylactides and polyglycolides. WO 91/12823 (Delta Biotechnology) discloses a similar process using albumin. Wheatley et al (1990) Biomaterials 11, 713-717 discloses ionotropic gelation of alginate to form microbubbles of over 30 μm diameter. WO 91/09629 discloses liposomes for use as ultrasound contrast agents. Our co-pending patent application PCT/GB92/00643 (published since the priority date of this application as WO 92/18164) discloses a spray-drying method which leads to particularly advantageous microspheres having the required strength and tightly controlled size distribution. Other spray-drying processes, for different purposes, were disclosed in Przyborowski et al (1982 Eur. J. Nucl. Med. 7, 71-72), namely the preparation of human serum albumin (HSA) microspheres for radiolabelling and subsequent use in scintigraphic imaging of the lung.
The Przyborowski et al article refers to two earlier disclosures of methods of obtaining albumin particles for lung scintigraphy. Aldrich & Johnston (1974) int. J. Appl. Rad. Isot. 25, 15-18 disclosed the use of a spinning disc to generate 3-70 μm diameter particles which are then denatured in hot oil. The oil is removed and the particles labelled with radioisotopes. Raju et al (1978) Isotopenpraxis 14(2), 57-61 used the same spinning disc technique but denatured the albumin by simply heating the particles. In neither case were hollow microspheres mentioned and the particles prepared were not suitable for echocardiography.
We have now developed our previous spray-drying process (WO 92/18164) and adapted it to produce further advantageous products.
One aspect of the present invention provides a process comprising a first step of atomising a solution or dispersion of a wall-forming material in order to obtain (i) hollow microspheres of 15-20 μm diameter, (ii) hollow microspheres having a prolonged half-life in the human bloodstream or (iii) hollow microspheres which are adapted for selective targeting to an area of the human or animal body.
These three microsphere products will be termed herein "the large microspheres", "the long life microspheres" and "the targeted microspheres", respectively.
Preferably, the product obtained in the said process is subjected to a second step of reducing the water-solubility of at least the outside of the said microspheres.
The said two steps may be carried out as a single process or the intermediate product of the first step may be collected and separately treated in the second step. These two possibilities are referred to hereinafter as the one step and two step processes.
The wall-forming material and process conditions should be so chosen that the product is sufficiently non-toxic and non-immunogenic in the conditions of use, which will clearly depend on the dose administered and duration of treatment. The wall-forming material may be a starch derivative, a synthetic polymer such as tert-butyloxycarbonylmethyl polyglutamate (U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,398) or a polysaccharide such as polydextrose or starch.
Generally, the wall-forming material can be selected from most hydrophilic, biodegradable physiologically compatible polymers. Among such polymers one can cite polysaccharides of low water solubility, polylactides and polyglycolides and their copolymers, copolymers of lactides and lactones such as ε-caprolactone, &valerolactone, polypeptides, and proteins such as gelatin, collagen, globulins and albumins. Other suitable polymers include poly-(ortho)esters (see for instance U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,709; U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,648; U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,344; U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,646; polylactic and polyglycolic acid and their copolymers, for instance DEXON (see J. Heller (1980) Biomaterials 1, 51; poly(DL-lactide-co-δ-caprolactone), poly(DL-lactide-co-δ-valerolactone), poly(DL-lactide-co-g-butyrolactone), polyalkylcyanoacrylates; polyamides, polyhydroxybutyrate; polydioxanone, poly-β-aminoketones (Polymer 23 (1982), 1693); polyphosphazenes (Science 193 (1976), 1214); and polyanhydrides. References on biodegradable polymers can be found in R. Langer et al (1983) Macromol. Chem. Phys. C23, 61-125. Polyamino-acids such as polyglutamic and polyaspartic acids can also be used as well as their derivatives, ie partial esters with lower alcohols or glycols. One useful example of such polymers is poly-(t,butyl-glutamate). Copolymers with other amino-acids such as methionine, leucine, valine, proline, glycine, alamine, etc are also possible.
Recently some novel derivatives of polyglutamic and polyaspartic acid with controlled biodegradability have been reported (see WO 87/03891; U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,398 and EP 130 935 incorporated here by reference). These polymers (and copolymers with other amino-acids) have formulae of the following type:
A can also represent groups of formulae:
The aforementioned polymers are suitable for making the microspheres according to the invention and, depending on the nature of substituents R, R1, R2 and X, the properties of the wall can be controlled, for instance, strength, elasticity and biodegradability. For instance X can be methyl (alanine), isopropyl (valine), isobutyl (leucine and isoleucine) or benzyl (phenylalanine).
Preferably, the wall-forming material is proteinaceous. For example, it may be collagen, gelatin or (serum) albumin, in each case preferably of human origin (ie derived from humans or corresponding in structure to the human protein). Most preferably, it is human serum albumin (HA) derived from blood donations or from the fermentation of microorganisms (including cell lines) which have been transformed or transfected to express HA.
Techniques for expressing HA (which term includes analogues and fragments of human albumin, for example those of EP-A-322094, and polymers of monomeric albumin) are disclosed in, for example, EP-A-201239 and EP-A-286424. All references are included herein by reference. "Analogues and fragments" of HA include all polypeptides (i) which are capable of forming a microsphere in the process of the invention and (ii) of which a continuous region of at least 50% (preferably at least 75%, 80%, 90% or 95%) of the amino acid sequence has at least 80% sequence identity (preferably at least 90%, 95% or 99% identity) with a continuous region of at least 50% (preferably 75%, 80%, 90% or 95%) of human albumin. HA which is produced by recombinant DNA techniques is particularly preferred. Thus, the HA may be produced by expressing an HA-encoding nucleotide sequence in yeast or in another microorganism and purifying the product, as is known in the art.
In the following description of preferred embodiments, the term "protein" is used since this is what we prefer but it is to be understood that other biocompatible wall-forming materials can be used, as discussed above.
The protein solution or dispersion is preferably 0.1 to 50% w/v, more preferably about 5.0-25.0% protein, particularly when the protein is albumin. About 20% is optimal. Mixtures of wall-forming materials may be used, in which case the percentages in the last two sentences refer to the total content of wall-forming material.
The preparation to be sprayed may contain substances other than the wall-forming material and solvent or carrier liquid. Thus, the aqueous phase may contain 1-20% by weight of water-soluble hydrophilic compounds like sugars and polymers as stabilizers, eg polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG), gelatin, polyglutamic acid and polysaccharides such as starch, dextran, agar, xanthan and the like. Similar aqueous phases can be used as the carrier liquid in which the final microsphere product is suspended before use. Emulsifiers may be used (0.1-5% by weight) including most physiologically acceptable emulsifiers, for instance egg lecithin or soya bean lecithin, or synthetic lecithins such as saturated synthetic lecithins, for example, dimyristoyl phosphatidyl choline, dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline or distearoyl phosphatidyl choline or unsaturated synthetic lecithins, such as dioleyl phosphatidyl choline or dilinoleyl phosphatidyl choline. Emulsifiers also include surfactants such as free fatty acids, esters of fatty acids with polyoxyalkylene compounds like polyoxypropylene glycol and polyoxyethylene glycol; ethers of fatty alcohols with polyoxyalkylene glycols; esters of fatty acids with polyoxyalkylated sorbitan; soaps; glycerol-polyalkylene stearate; glycerol-polyoxyethylene ricinoleate; homo- and copolymers of polyalkylene glycols; polyethoxylated soya-oil and castor oil as well as hydrogenated derivatives; ethers and esters of sucrose or other carbohydrates with fatty acids, fatty alcohols, these being optionally polyoxyalkylated; mono-, di- and triglycerides of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, glycerides or soya-oil and sucrose.
Additives can be incorporated into the wall of the microspheres to modify the physical properties such as dispersibility, elasticity and water permeability.
Among the useful additives, one may cite compounds which can "hydrophobize" the wall in order to decrease water permeability, such as fats, waxes and high molecular-weight hydrocarbons. Additives which improve dispersibility of the microspheres in the injectable liquid-carrier are amphipathic compounds like the phospholipids; they also increase water permeability and rate of biodegradability.
Additives which increase wall elasticity are the plasticizers like isopropyl myristate and the like. Also, very useful additives are constituted by polymers akin to that of the wall itself but with relatively low molecular weight. For instance when using copolymers of polylactic/polyglycolic type as the wall-forming material, the properties of the wall can be modified advantageously (enhanced softness and biodegradability) by incorporating, as additives, low molecular weight (1000 to 15,000 Dalton) polyglycolides or polylactides. Also polyethylene glycol of moderate to low MW (eg PEG 2000) is a useful softening additive.
The quantity of additives to be incorporated in the wall is extremely variable and depends on the needs. In some cases no additive is used at all; in other cases amounts of additives which may reach about 20% by weight of the wall are possible.
The protein solution or dispersion (preferably solution), referred to hereinafter as the "protein preparation", is atomised and spray-dried by any suitable technique which results in discrete microspheres of 1.00-50.0 μm diameter. These figures refer to at least 90% of the population of microspheres, the diameter being measured with a Coulter Master Sizer II. The term "microspheres" means hollow particles enclosing a space, which space is filled with a gas or vapour but not with any solid materials. Honeycombed particles resembling the confectionery sold in the UK as "Maltesers" (Regd TM) are not formed. It is not necessary for the space to be totally enclosed (afthough this is preferred) and it is not necessary for the microspheres to be precisely spherical, although they are generally spherical. If the microspheres are not spherical, then the diameters referred to above relate to the diameter of a corresponding spherical microsphere having the same mass and enclosing the same volume of hollow space as the non-spherical microsphere.
The atomising comprises forming an aerosol of the protein preparation by, for example, forcing the preparation through at least one orifice under pressure into, or by using a centrifugal atomizer in, a chamber of warm air or other inert gas. The chamber should ideally be big enough for the largest ejected drops not to strike the walls before drying. The gas or vapour in the chamber is clean (ie preferably sterile and pyrogen-free) and non-toxic when administered into the bloodstream in the amounts concomitant with administration of the microspheres in echocardiography. The rate of evaporation of the liquid from the protein preparation should be sufficiently high to form hollow microspheres but not so high as to burst the microspheres. The rate of evaporation may be controlled by varying the gas flow rate, concentration of protein in the protein preparation, nature of liquid carrier, feed rate of the solution and, most importantly, the temperature of the gas encountered by the aerosol. With an albumin concentration of 15-25% in water, an inlet gas temperature of at least about 100� C., preferably at least 110� C., is generally sufficient to ensure hollowness and the temperature may be as high as 250� C. without the capsules bursting. About 180-240� C., preferably about 210-230� C. and most preferably about 220� C., is optimal, at least for albumin. The temperature may, in the one step version of the process of the invention, be sufficient to insolubilise at least part (usually the outside) of the wall-forming material and frequently substantially all of the wall-forming material. Since the temperature of the gas encountered by the aerosol will depend also on the rate at which the aerosol is delivered and on the liquid content of the protein preparation, the outlet temperature may be monitored to ensure an adequate temperature in the chamber. An outlet temperature of 40-150� C. has been found to be suitable. Apart from this factor, however, controlling the flow rate has not been found to be as useful as controlling the other parameters.
In the two step process, the intermediate microspheres comprise typically 96-98% monomeric HA and have a limited in vivo life time for ultrasound imaging. They may, however, be used for ultrasound imaging (at least in some uses of the microspheres of the invention), or they may be stored and transported before the second step of the two step process is carried out. They therefore form a further aspect of the invention.
In the second step of the process, the intermediate microspheres prepared in the first step are fixed and rendered less water-soluble so that they persist for longer whilst not being so insoluble and inert that they are not biodegradable. This step also strengthens the microspheres so that they are better able to withstand the rigours of administration, vascular shear and ventricular pressure. If the microspheres burst, they become less echogenic. Schneider et al (1992) Invest. Radiol. 27, 134-139 showed that prior art sonicated albumin microbubbles do not have this strength and rapidly lose their echogenicity when subjected to pressures typical of the left ventricle. The second step of the process may employ heat (for example microwave heat, radiant heat or hot air, for example in a conventional oven), ionising irradiation (with, for example, a 10.0-100.0 kGy dose of gamma rays) or chemical cross-linking using, for example, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, ethylene oxide or other agents for cross-linking proteins and is preferably carried out on the substantially dry intermediate microspheres formed in the first step, or on a suspension of such microspheres in a liquid in which the microspheres are insoluble, for example a suitable solvent. In the one step version of the process, a cross-linking agent such as glutaraldehyde may be sprayed into the spray-drying chamber or may be introduced into the protein preparation just upstream of the spraying means. Alternatively, the temperature in the chamber may be high enough to insolubilise the microspheres.
The "long life microspheres" and the "targeted microspheres" may, if one wishes, consist of microspheres having a diameter of 0.05 to 50.0 μm (measured in the same way as the intermediate microspheres), but ranges of 0.1 to 20 μm and especially 1.0 to 8.0 μm are obtainable with the process of the invention and are preferred for echocardiography. We have found that a range of about 0.5 to 3.0 μm may be especially suitable for the production of a low contrast image and for use in colour Doppler imaging, whereas a range of about 4.0 to 6.0 μm may be better for the production of sharp images. One needs to take into account the fact that the second step may alter the size of the microspheres in determining the size produced in the first step.
It has been found that the process of the invention can be controlled in order to obtain microspheres with desired characteristics. Thus, the pressure at which the protein solution is supplied to the spray nozzle may be varied, for example from 1.0-10.0�10′ Pa, preferably 2.0-6.0�105 Pa and most preferably about 5�10′ Pa. Other parameters may be varied as disclosed above and below. In this way, novel microspheres may be obtained.
A further aspect of the invention provides large, long life or targeted hollow microspheres in which more than 30%, preferably more than 40%, 50%, or 60%, of the microspheres have a diameter within a 2 μm range and, in the case of the long life or targeted microspheres, at least 90%, preferably at least 95% or 99%, have a diameter within the range 1.0-8.0 μm. In the case of the large microspheres, the corresponding diameter range is 12-25 μm.
Thus, the interquartile range may be 2 μm, with a median diameter (for the long life or targeted microspheres) of 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 or 6.5 μm.
Thus, at least 30%, 40%, 50% or 60% of the long life or targeted microspheres may have diameters within the range 1.5-3.5 μm, 2.0-4.0 μm, 3.0-5.0 μm, 4.0-6.0 μm, 5.0-7.0 μl or 6.0-8.0 μm. Preferably a said percentage of the said microspheres have diameters within a 1.0 μm range, such as 1.5-2.5 μm, 2.0-3.0 μm, 3.04.0 μm, 4.0-5.0 μm, 5.0-6.0 μm, 6.0-7.0 μm or 7.0-8.0 μm.
A further aspect of the invention provides large, long life or targeted hollow microspheres with proteinaceous walls in which at least 90%, preferably at least 95% or 99%, of the microspheres have a diameter in the range 1.0-8.0 μm (or, in the case of the large microspheres, 12-25 μm); at least 90%, preferably at least 95% or 99%, of the microspheres have a wall thickness of 40-500 nm, preferably 100-500 nm and at least 50% of the protein in the walls of the microspheres is cross-linked.
Scanning electron microscopy of the microcapsules shows that they are hollow spheres with no solid matter other than in the wall. Hence, the wall thickness can either be measured microscopically or can be calculated as follows. The mass of wall-forming material in each of the sprayed droplets is given by
Our studies have shown that the external dimension of the droplet is essentially unchanged whilst the solvent is evaporated off. The mass of wall-forming material in the dried microcapsule is therefore given by
Hence, for an external diameter of 5 μm (external radius of 2.5 μm), a concentration in the solution sprayed of 0.2 g/ml (20%) and a wall density of 1.31 g/cm3 (determinable by helium pycnometry), the wall thickness can be calculated to be 134 nm.
Preferably, at least 75%, 90%, 95%, 98.0%, 98.5% or 99% of the protein in any of the three kinds of microspheres of the invention is sufficiently cross-linked to be resistant to extraction with a 1% HCl solution for 2 minutes. Extracted protein is detected using the Coomassie Blue protein assay, Bradford. The protein content in the washings is expressed as a percentage of the original mass of microcapsules.
The degree of cross-linking is controlled by varying the heating, irradiation or chemical treatment of the protein. During the cross-linking process, protein monomer is cross-linked and quickly becomes unavailable in a simple dissolution process, as detected by gel permeation HPLC or gel electrophoresis, as is shown in Example 8 below. Continued treatment leads to further cross-linking of already cross-linked material such that it becomes unavailable in the HCl extraction described above. During heating at 175� C., rHA microspheres in accordance with the invention lose about 99% of HCl-extractable protein over the course of 20 minutes, whereas, at 150� C., 20 minutes' heating removes only about 5% HCl-extractable protein, 30 mins removes 47.5%, 40 mins 83%, 60 mins 93%, 80 mins 97% and 100 mins removes 97.8% of the HCI-extractable protein. To achieve good levels of cross-linking therefore, the microspheres may be heated at 175� C. for at least 17 (preferably 2040 mins, most preferably 3540 mins) mins, at 150� C. for at least 80 mins and at other temperatures for correspondingly longer or shorter times. We have found that serum-derived albumin needs less time to cross-link than rHA.
The injectable microspheres of the present invention can be stored dry in the presence or in the absence of additives to improve conservation and prevent coalescence. As additives, one may select from 0.1 to 25% by weight of water-soluble physiologically acceptable compounds such as mannitol, galactose, lactose or sucrose or hydrophilic polymers like dextran, xanthan, agar, starch, PVP, polyglutamic acid, polyvinylalcohol (PVA) and gelatin.
In order to minimise any agglomeration of the microspheres, the microspheres can be milled with a suitable inert excipient using a Fritsch centrifugal pin mill equipped with a 0.5 mm screen, or a Glen Creston air impact jet mill. Suitable excipients are finely milled powders which are inert and suitable for intravenous use, such as lactose, glucose, mannitol, sorbitol, galactose, maltose or sodium chloride. Once milled, the microspheres/excipient mixture can be suspended in aqueous medium to facilitate removal of non-functional/defective microspheres. Upon reconstitution in the aqueous phase, it is desirable to include a trace amount of stirfactant to prevent agglomeration. Anionic, cationic and non-ionic surfactants suitable for this purpose include poloxamers, sorbitan esters, polysorbates and lecithin.
The microsphere suspension may then be allowed to float, or may be centrifuged to sediment any defective particles which have surface defects which would, in use, cause them to fill with liquid and be no longer echogenic.
The microsphere suspension may then be remixed to ensure even particle distribution, washed and reconstituted in a buffer suitable for intravenous injection such as 0.15M NaCl 0.01 mM Tris pH 7.0. The suspension may be aliquoted for freeze drying and subsequent sterilisation by, for example, gamma irradiation, dry heating or ethylene oxide.
An alternative method for deagglomeration of the insolubilised or fixed microspheres is to suspend them directly in an aqueous medium containing a surfactant chosen from poloxainers, sorbitan esters, polysorbates and lecithin. Deagglomeration may then be achieved using a suitable homogeniser.
The microsphere suspension may then be allowed to float or may be centrifuged to sediment the defective particles, as above, and further treated as above.
Although the microspheres of this invention can be marketed in the dry state, more particularly when they are designed with a limited life time after injection, it may be desirable to also sell ready-made preparations, ie suspensions of microspheres in an aqueous liquid carrier ready for injection.
The product is generally, however, supplied and stored as a dry powder and is suspended in a suitable sterile, non-pyrogenic liquid just before administration.
A further aspect of the invention provides large, long life or targeted hollow microspheres, at least 10% of the microspheres, when suspended in water, being capable of surviving a 0.25 s application of a pressure of 2.66�104 Pa without bursting, collapsing or filling with water. The transient maximum pressure in the human left ventricle is about 200 mmHg (2.66�104 Pa).
Preferably 50%, 75%, 90% or 100% survive the said 0.25 s application of 2.66�104 Pa when tested as above, le remain echogenic. In vivo, preferably the same percentages will remain echogenic during one passage through both ventricles of the heart.
The "large" microspheres of the invention are characterised by the fact that at least 90%, preferably at least 95% or 99%, of the microspheres have a diameter within the range 10.1-19.9 μm, preferably 13-18 μm.
It should be noted that these microspheres are "large" only in relation to the preferred microspheres of our earlier patent application WO 92/18164 and in relation to the preferred sizes of long life and targeted microspheres disclosed herein; prior art microspheres were frequently larger than 25 μm.
The large microspheres of the invention may be produced by controlling the parameters of the spray-drying process. The concentration of the wall-forming material in the liquid to be sprayed may be the same as for the smaller microspheres described above, namely 0.1-50.0% w/v (preferably about 5.0-25.0%, especially when the wall-forming material is albumin), as may the temperature in the warn chamber (100-250� C., preferably 200-250� C.) and the second step of the process, but the spraying pressure is reduced to less than 2 bar (2�105 Pa) and is preferably no more than 1.8�105 Pa, 1.5�105 Pa or 1.3�105 Pa. A minimum pressure of 1�105 Pa is preferred.
The large microspheres of the invention are suitable for use as a deposit echocontrast agent to delineate under-perfused areas of microcirculation. We have found that microspheres of mean size 15.0 μm have echogenicities some 4.6�104 fold higher than similar microspheres of mean size 5.0 μm. Hence, a relatively low dose can be used to image regions deep inside the body which are inaccessible to normal ultrasound techniques. The microspheres can be delivered by known techniques using a catheter to deliver the microspheres to, for example, the capillaries of the liver, kidney or coronary blood vessels. An advantage, compared to classical radiolabelled microsphere studies, is that, following arterial administration, catheter withdrawal and patient stabilisation, multiple plane images may be taken to build a 3D perfusion map of the myocardium or similar capillary bed. Regional myocardial blood flow can be qualitatively assessed in patients with coronary artery disease at the time of angiography by imaging the heart following the direct intracoronary injection of the microspheres. These microspheres are trapped in the microvasculature of the heart during the initial transmit through the coronary circulation. Since only a very small fraction of the capillaries or arterioles is embolized, no detectable adverse haemodynainic or electrophysiological effects are expected. When nutrient blood flow to a segment of the left ventricular myocardium is diminished, as in a region of myocardial scar or in a region supplied by an occluded or severely stenotic coronary artery, the number of microspheres delivered to these segments is reduced. This is appreciated as a focal reduction in activity secondary to regional underperfusion. Because the microspheres are introduced into the arteries, removal of the microspheres in the capillaries of the lung is avoided.
In the context of angiography, a catheter is placed within the left ventricle via insertion in the femoral artery. X-ray opaque dyes are injected both in the left ventricle and within the coronary arteries themselves. Injection of such agents enables the visualisation of vessels to the 100 μm diameter level by projecting the 3D information onto a 2D plane. Currently angiography enables stenosis of the major coronary arteries to be identified.
The use of the large microspheres of the invention with ultrasound technology may enable the generation of multiple tomographic images and also 3D reconstruction of images. With the microspheres depositing for sufficient time to enable tomographic images or 3D image reconstruction of the vascular bed, perfusion beds may be delineated. Therefore, as an adjunct to angiography to identify the major causative lesion, a deposit echocontrast agent constituted by the large microspheres of the invention may enable 3D perfusion territories to be identified.
Due to the pressure stability of the preferred microspheres, they retain air and hence echogenicity for a substantial period of time. The microspheres may deposit in the vasculature following catheter administration in a manner similar to classical microsphere studies, reflecting the amount of flow to any given perfusion territory. Imaging of the territory may then be made after catheter withdrawal and patient stabilisation, to enable more optimal images in multiple planes to be gathered. Comparison with a baseline unenhanced image thus enables the perfusion, following a corrective procedure, to be assessed.
The microspheres may be tailored for intracoronary use not only by manipulation of their size and pressure stability but also by their rate of biodegradation.
For intracoronary use, it is preferable to crosslink the large (10-20 μm) microcapsules at 175� C. for a period of 18-60 minutes, more preferably 2040 minutes and most preferably 35-40 minutes. This yields microcapsules that are pressure resistant but have a shortened tissue half life compared to the microcapsules of WO 92/18164 and therefore are more applicable to use in the microcirculation of the myocardium. The tissue half-life can be measured by labelling the microcapsules with 125I by the Chloramine T method and assessing the organ content of microcapsules by necropsy or the release of 125I into the urine and faeces.
The "targeted" microspheres of the invention are characterised by having in or on their walls a material to direct or target the microspheres to a desired location in the body.
The "targeted" microspheres of the invention may be prepared by including in or on the wall of the microsphere material which alters the electrical charge of the microsphere.
Thus, a positive or negative charge can be imparted by applying a positively or negatively charged material, respectively, or existing positive or negative charges can be reduced or eliminated. These effects can be achieved in a variety of ways. The final product (ie pressure resistant) microspheres produced by the basic one or two step process described above may be milled as described above and resuspended at a microsphere concentration of 1.0-250�10 6/ml in: a 0.5-20.0% w/v solution (preferably 1.0-10.0% w/v, for example about 5%) of a positively or negatively charged material (if polymeric of 1-30 kD, preferably 5-15 kD) and incubated for 5-60 hours (preferably about 8-24 hours) at 5-30� C. (preferably about 20� C.). Positively charged polyamino acids include polylysine, polyaspartamide, polyarginate and polyhistidine. Negatively charged polyamino acids include polyglutamate and polyaspartate. Other negatively charged polymers include phospholipids, hyaluronic acid and polygluconic acid. An advantage of such coated echocontrast agents is to increase the echogenicity of the blood pool to enable signal enhancement of doppler signals.
Alternatively, and more preferably, positive or negative charges on microspheres may be increased by incorporating the material in the spraydrying feedstock in the range of 1-30%, preferably 2-10% w/v. This latter method is particularly preferred for polyglutamate, and for negatively charged additives generally.
Other materials which can be used in the same way to impart a negative charge include anhydrides and chlorides of C1-10 organic acids, such as acetic, fumaric and succinic acids. A final concentration of the chloride or anhydride of 5-1000 mg/ml is generally suitable, in a non-polar solvent such as dimethylformamide or tetrahydrofuran. An incubation time of 0.5-5 hours, preferably about 1 hour, at 5-30� C., preferably about 20� C., is suitable, followed by washing with excess water.
Existing negative charges on the microspheres prepared by the basic spray-drying process may be removed by exposing the microspheres to a carbodiimide agent such as N-ethyl-N′-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC), at a concentration of about 5-1000 mg/ml for a period of about 5-30 hours (preferably about 16 hours) at 5-30� C. (preferably about 20� C.). Excess reagent is then quenched with, for example, ethanolamine to an equivalent concentration during a further such incubation before the microspheres are washed.
The electrophoretic mobility of the microspheres may be assessed in a Malvern Zeta sizer or in a Pen Kem System 3000 (USA) minielectrophoresis cell, for example for 20 particles in buffers of pH4-10. Preferably, the electrophoretic mobility is in one of the ranges plus or minus 0.001−5.0�10−8 m/sec/v/cm.
In these ranges the charge upon the microspheres alters their circulatory behaviour. More preferably, the mobility, is in one of the ranges plus or minus 0.01 to 0.5�10−8 m/sec/v/cm, suitably in one of the ranges plus or minus 0.1 to 0.5�10−8 m/sec/v/cin.
In all of these methods of altering the charge on the microspheres, the resulting microspheres may finally be formulated for storage as described above, for example suspending them in a mannitol/Pluronic F68 solution, flash freezing and freeze-drying.
The surface charge of microcapsules can affect the imaging properties of the product through its influence on the in vivo fate of particles. For example, it is known that after intravenous injection negatively charged polystyrene particles are taken up at high efficiency by the liver, whereas particles with a positive charge accumulate initially in the lung. Additionally, it is known that the endothelial cell surface is coated with a glycocalyx carrying a net negative charge at physiological pH values. The inner surface of endothelium may therefore be stained with collodial iron particles carrying a net positive charge. Therefore, in areas of slow or sluggish flow, such as that experienced in the capillary beds of the peripheral vasculature, liver, kidney and myocardium, increasing the net positive charge on the microcapsule shell and endothelial lining may lead to hindered transit through the microcirculation. This creates the possibility of extended, imaging windows or even deposit echocontrast agents for analysis of the microvasculature following intravenous administration.
The "long-life" microspheres have an increased circulation time in the body, such that serum t1/2 is at least 5 minutes, preferably at least 10 minutes and most preferably at least 15 minutes. Such increased circulation times may be achieved by coating the microspheres with a material which directs the microspheres away from the reticul-endothelial system.
In vivo t� may be assessed by labelling the microcapsules with 125I using the well known Chloramine T method, and administering them into the ear vein of a male adult New Zealand rabbit as is generally described in Specific Example 10 below. The serum level of 125I is measured by gamma counting.
For example, the said material may be one which reduces or substantially prevents "opsonization", the deposition of proteinaceous material (such as fibrinogen) on the microspheres, thus directing the microspheres away from the liver and spleen. Suitable materials with which to coat the microspheres include block copolymers of the poloxamer series (ie polyethylene glycol/polyethylene oxide copolymers), such as poloxamer 338, poloxamer 407 and poloxamer 908.
By prolonging the circulatory half-life of highly pressure resistant air-containing microcapsules, areas of very low flow such as found in the capillary beds are detectable beyond enhanced doppler studies. Abnormal blood flow associated with hepatocellular carcinomas, renal carcinomas, and breast tumours can be detected with use of Doppler techniques. In general, larger malignant tumours show the greatest signal changes, and the abnormal Doppler signals become more difficult to detect in smaller tumours. With malignant breast tumours, for instance, the low signal strength from moving scatterers whose echo is "diluted" by that of stationary solid tissue is one limiting factor in the detection of small tumours. One criterion for the Doppler detection of tumour flow is the inhomogeneity of the spatial distribution of vessels after neovascularization. Contrast enhancement allows the display of smaller vessels and hence increase the utility of this criterion in colour Doppler studies. The agent may enhance backscatter in both tumour and normal vessels. Enhanced blood reflectivity improves detection and differentiation of small tumours in such organs as the breast, liver, kidneys, pancreas and ovaries.
Also, the ultrasound contrast agent may help differentiate areas of normal vascularity from areas of reduced or absent flow due to the presence of tumour or necrosis. The demonstration of normal parenchymal arterial flow within areas that were considered abnormal may help to distinguish normal parenchyma from pseudotumours (focal fatty infiltration of the liver or renal columns of Bertin). Ultrasound contrast agents also may enhance echoes from arterial blood for the detection of ischemia or occlusion. In cases of partial occlusion, the flow is often fast enough for Doppler detection, but the quantity of blood (which, with tissue attenuation, determines the signal strength) passing through the narrowing may not be great enough to be detected with current Doppler equipment. Under certain circumstances, the introduction of more reflectors can aid delineation of the site of narrowing. A contrast agent may also aid the visualization of collaterals caused by occlusion or severe stenosis.
The long-life microspheres are prepared in the same way as the targeted microspheres described above, in other words the coating material may be applied to a suspension of the spray-dried microspheres before they are freeze-dried or included in the spray feedstock.
A suspension of the microspheres of the invention is generally administered by injection of about 1.0-10.0 ml into a suitable vein such as the cubital vein or other bloodvessel. A microsphere concentration of about 1.0�105 to 1.0�1012 particles/ml is suitable, preferably about 5.0�105 to 5.0�109.
Although ultrasonic imaging is applicable to various animal and human body organ systems, one of its main applications is in obtaining images of myocardial tissue and perfusion or blood flow patterns.
The techniques use ultrasonic scanning equipment consisting of a scanner and imaging apparatus. The equipment produces visual images of a predetermined area, in this case the heart region of a human body. Typically, the transducer is placed directly on the skin over the area to be imaged. The scanner houses various electronic components including ultrasonic transducers. The transducer produces ultrasonic waves which perform a sector scan of the heart region. The ultrasonic waves are reflected by the various portions of the heart region and are received by the receiving transducer and processed in accordance with pulse-echo methods known in the art. After processing, signals are sent to the imaging apparatus (also well known in the art) for viewing.
In the method of the present invention, after the patient is "prepped" and the scanner is in place, the microsphere suspension is injected, for example through an arm vein. The contrast agent flows through the vein to the right venous side of the heart, through the main pulmonary artery leading to the lungs, across the lungs, through the capillaries, into the pulmonary vein and finally into the left atrium and the left ventricular cavity of the heart.
With the microspheres of this invention, observations and diagnoses can be made with respect to the amount of time required for the blood to pass through the lungs, blood flow patterns, the size of the left atrium, the competence of the mitral valve (which separates the left atrium and left ventricle), chamber dimensions in the left ventricular cavity and wall motion abnormalities. Upon ejection of the contrast agent from the left ventricle, the competence of the aortic valve also may be analyzed, as well as the ejection fraction or percentage of volume ejected from the left ventricle. Finally, the contrast patterns in the tissue will indicate which areas, if any, are not being adequately perfused.
In summary, such a pattern of images will help diagnose unusual blood flow characteristics within the heart, valvular competence, chamber sizes and wall motion, and will provide a potential indicator of myocardial perfusion.
The microspheres may permit left heart imaging from intravenous injections. The albumin microspheres, when injected into a peripheral vein, may be capable of transpulmonary passage. This results in echocardiographic opacification of the left ventricle (LV) cavity as well as myocardial tissue.
Besides the scanner briefly described above, there exist other ultrasonic scanners, examples of which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,134,554 and 4,315,435, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Basically, these patents relate to various techniques including dynamic cross-sectional echography (DCE) for producing sequential two-dimensional images of cross-sectional slices of animal or human anatomy by means of ultrasound energy at a frame rate sufficient to enable dynamic visualisation of moving organs. Types of apparatus titilised in DCE are generally called DCE scanners and transmit and receive short, sonic pulses in the form of narrow beams or lines. The reflected signals' strength is a function of time, which is converted to a position using a nominal sound speed, and is displayed on a cathode ray tube or other suitable devices in a manner somewhat analogous to radar or sonar displays. While DCE can be used to produce images of many organ systems including the liver, gall bladder, pancreas and kidney, it is frequently used for visualisation of tissue and major blood vessels of the heart.
The microspheres may be used for imaging a wide variety of areas, even when injected at a peripheral venous site. Those areas include (without limitation): (1) the venous drainage system to the heart; (2) the myocardial tissue and perfusion characteristics during an exercise treadmill test or the like; and (3) myocardial tissue after an oral ingestion or intravenous injection of drugs designed to increase blood flow to the tissue. Additionally, the microspheres may be useful in delineating changes in the myocardial tissue perfusion due to interventions such as (1) coronary artery vein grafting; (2) coronary artery angioplasty (balloon dilation of a narrowed artery); (3) use of thrombolytic agents (such as streptokinase) to dissolve clots in coronary arteries; or (4) perfusion defects or changes due to a recent heart attack.
Furthermore, at the time of a coronary angiogram (or a digital subtraction angiogram) an injection of the microspheres may provide data with respect to tissue perfusion characteristics that would augment and complement the data obtained from the angiogram procedure, which identifies only the anatomy of the blood vessels.
Through the use of the microspheres of the present invention, other non-cardiac organ systems including the liver, spleen and kidney that are presently imaged by ultrasonic techniques may be suitable for enhancement of such currently obtainable images, and/or the generation of new images showing perfusion and flow characteristics that had not previously been susceptible to imaging using prior art ultrasonic imaging techniques.
Preferred aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to
A suitable spray dryer (
The drying chamber has an inside made of stainless steel AISI 316, well insulated with Rockwool, and covered outside with a mild steel sheeting. The drying chamber is provided with a side light and observation pane for inspection during the operation and steps 5 for access to the chamber top. The roof of the drying chamber is made inside of stainless steel AISI 316 and outside of stainless steel AISI 304. There is a switch 6 for an air valve for activation of the pneumatic lifting device when raising the chamber lid.
An air disperser 2 made of stainless steel AISI 304 is used for distribution of the air in the drying chamber in order to achieve the best possible drying effect. Swirling air is directed around the vaned disc atomiser. An air duct, made of stainless steel AISI 316, provides lateral transportation of the exhaust air and the powder to the cyclone 7, which is made of stainless steel AISI 316 and designed to separate the powder and air.
A closing valve of the butterfly valve type, also made of stainless steel AISI 316 and having a gasket of silicone rubber, is used for powder discharge under the cyclone into a powder collecting glass jar 8 tightly placed under the cyclone by means of a spring device.
A centrifugal exhaust fan 10 made of silumin, complete with 3-phase squirrel-cage motor, 0.25 kW, and V-belt drive with belt-guard, draws air and powder through the drying chamber and cyclone. There is a switch 11 for air flow control via a damper.
An air heater 12 heats the drying air by means of electricity (total consumption 7.5 kWh/h, infinitely variable) and can give inlet air temperatures of up to about 350� C., although this is generally too high for preparing the microspheres of the invention.
The evaporative capacity is as follows:
Evaporative Capacity
Equipment for two-fluid nozzle atomization may be added, which is made of stainless steel AISI 316, consisting of entrance pipe with nozzle holder and nozzle, to be placed in the ceiling of the drying chamber. The equipment includes an oil/water separator, reduction valve and pressure gauge for compressed-air to the two-fluid nozzle. Consumption of compressed air: 8-15 kg/h at a pressure of 0.5-2.0 bar (0.5-2.0�105 Pa).
A suitable feed pump for transport of wall-forming preparation feed from a reservoir 1 to the atomizer nozzle 3 is a peristaltic pump. The pump is provided with a motor (1�220V, 50 Hz, 0.18 kW) and a continuously variable gear for manual adjustment. A feed pipe made of silicone hose leads from a feed tank (local supply) 1 through the feed pump to the rotary or nozzle atomization device 3.
An absolute air filter, consisting of prefilter, filter body in stainless steel and absolute air filter, is used for the treatment of the ingoing drying air to render it completely clean. The whole apparatus is controlled via an instrument panel 9.
A 20% solution of sterile, pyrogen-free rHA in pyrogen-free water (suitable for injection) was pumped to the nozzle of a two fluid nozzle atomiser mounted in the commercial spray drying unit described above. The peristaltic pump speed was maintained at a rate of approximately 10 ml/minute such that with an inlet air temperature of 220� C. the outlet air teinperattire was maintained at 95� C.
Compressed air was supplied to the two fluid atomising nozzle at 2.0-6.0 Bar (2.0-6.0�105 Pa). In this range microspheres with a mean size of 4.25-6.2 μm are obtained.
Typically an increase in mean particle size (by reduced atoinisation pressure) led to an increase in the amount of microspheres over 10 μm in size (see Table 1).
In the second step of the process, 5 g of microspheres were heated in a glass beaker using a Gallenkamp fan oven. A temperature of 175� C. for 1 hour was sufficient to yield microspheres with 100% fixation as determined by HPLC. The effect of this heat fixation was to increase the in vitro echogenic half life from a few seconds to in excess of 30 minutes. By altering the temperature and length of incubation it is possible to vary the degree of fixation between about 5% and 100%. Examples of heat fixation profiles of varying temperatures are shown in
Following heat fixation, the microspheres were deagglomerated and dispersed into water in one of two ways. Method 1 involved first mixing the heat fixed spheres with an equal weight of finely milled lactose (mean diameter 5 μm). The mixture was then passed through a Fritsen centrifugal mill with a 0.5 mm screen and 12 tooth rotor. The milled spheres were collected and passed through the mill a second time to ensure complete mixing had occurred. The milled powder was then resuspended in water containing 1 mg.ml−1 Pluronic F68. Typically 10 g of microspheres and lactose was added to 100 ml of water and Pluronic F68. Method 2 for deaggloineration involves adding 5 g of the heat-fixed microspheres to 100 ml of water containing 100 mg of Pluronic F68. The microspheres were dispersed using a Silverson homogeniser (model LAR with a 2.54 cm tubular homogenising probe and a high shear screen) and homogenising for 60 seconds.
The resuspended spheres were separated into intact (gas containing) and broken spheres using a flotation technique. The gas-containing spheres were seen to float to the surface over a 1 hour period and were decanted from the sinking fraction which does not contain the gas required.
The separation process can be accelerated by centrifugation. A 30 second centrifugation at 5000�g is sufficient to separate the two fractions.
Following separation the intact microspheres were freeze-dried in the presence of lactose and Pluronic F68. Optimal conditions for freeze drying involved resuspending 30 mg of microspheres in 5 ml of water containing 50 mg of lactose and 5 mg of Pluronic F68. The freeze-dried microspheres can be redispersed in a liquid (eg water, saline) to give a monodisperse distribution.
The process of Example 1 was repeated but with the following differences in the first step: a centrifugal atomiser was used instead of a two fluid nozzle; the inlet temperature was 150� C. (with the outlet air temperature still being sustained at 105� C.); and compressed air was supplied to the nozzle at 1.0-6.0�105 Pa The wheel rotated at 20-40,000 rpm and delivered droplets, and subsequently microspheres, with a number mean diameter in the 1.0-8.0 μm range.
The second step of the process of Example 1 or 2 was varied as follows. A small aliquot of the microspheres (0.5 g) was heated in a microwave oven such that it received 300-350 watt hours of microwave heat at 2500 mHz. This yielded microspheres in which 90-95% of the monomeric rHA was insoluble (as determined by gel permeation chromatography) and as a result of this heat fixation their in vitro echogenic half-life increased from a few seconds to in excess of 30 minutes.
The second step of the process of Example 1 or 2 was varied as follows. A small aliquot of the microspheres (0.5 g) was sealed under argon in a glass vial. The vial was cooled to 4� C. and then irradiated with a 60Co gamma radiation source to deliver a 15.0 kGy dose of gamma rays. The irradiation resulted in the formation of microspheres in which 10-15% of the monomeric albumin was insoluble.
The second step of the process of Example 1 or 2 was varied as follows. A small aliquot of the microspheres (0.5 g) was sealed under argon in a glass vial. The vial was cooled to 4� C. and then irradiated with a 60Co gamma radiation source to deliver a 50.0 kGy dose of gamma rays to the microspheres. Following irradiation, the microspheres were incubated in oxygen at 50� C. for 6 hours. The irradiation resulted in the formation of microspheres in which 50-60% of the monomeric rHA was insoluble.
The second step of the process of Example 1 or 2 was varied as follows.
A small aliquot of microspheres (0.5 g) was resuspended in 5 ml of ethanol, chloroform or methylene chloride containing a) 1.5% glutaraldehyde, b) 2.0% diphthaloyl chloride or c) 5.0% formaldehyde. The microspheres were stirred for varying times from 10 minutes to 3 hours. The microspheres were removed by filtration and washed thoroughly in the original organic buffer containing 5% ethanolamine, in order to remove excess cross-linking agent. Finally the microspheres were washed in organic solvent and vacuum dried to remove any residual solvents. The extent of insolubilisation may be varied from 5-100% by this method resulting in the extension of in vitro echogenic half-life from 1-2 minutes to in excess of one hour.
The two independent steps of microsphere formation and insolubilisation of the shell may be combined in a single process. In this example, the formation of the microspheres and the insolubilisation of the polymeric material are achieved simultaneously during the spray drying process.
A solution of rHA was fed by peristaltic pump to a small reaction chamber, with a separate feed line supplying a 5% solution of a suitable crosslinking agent, eg glutaraldehyde, diphthaloyl chloride or formaldehyde. The residence time in the reaction chamber was such that initial adduct formation between the crosslinking agent and the protein was achieved, but intraprotein crosslinking was prevented. The reaction vessel outlet was fed directly to the two fluid nozzle atomisers mounted in a specially adapted spray drying unit, capable of handling volatile solvents. The conditions of spray drying were as outlined in Example 1. The microspheres were incubated dry at room temperature to allow intraprotein crosslinks to form and then suspended in ethanol containing 5% ethanolamine to quench any remaining crosslinking agent. Thorough washing of the microspheres was performed and finally the microspheres were vacuum dried to remove residual solvent.
A 1 ml volume of ethanol was added to 100 mg of microspheres in a 20 ml glass bottle and sonicated for 30 seconds. To this suspension 19 ml of H2O were added.
The mixture was centrifuged in a bench-top microfuge (Gilson) for 20 seconds and the clear fraction assayed. The assay was performed by loading 50 ml of the fraction automatically onto a Shimadzu LC6A HPLC and chromatographing on a TSK gel permeation column at a flow rate of 1 ml minute−1 using sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0).
The peak heights representing the rHA monomer were recorded and used to determine the concentration of monomer using a standard curve between 1 and 10 mgml−1 monomeric rHA.
The %-free monomeric rHA was calculated by measuring the monomer concentration in the fixed microspheres and representing this figure as a percentage of the monomer concentration of the unfixed microspheres. The results are given in
Heating of the spray dried microspheres in an oven (as described in Example 1) results in a decrease in the amount of monomer that can be detected (see
Using the HPLC method to assess rHA monitor levels, it is clear from
This prolonged heating results in an increased level of microsphere crosslinking which in turn produces microspheres of increasing strength which are correspondingly more resistant to pressure.
By careful control of temperature and time of incubation, it is possible to produce microspheres with a controlled range of crosslinking (and hence pressure resistivity and biodegradation rate).
A batch of rHA microspheres from the initial spray-drying step of the process was divided into 5 g aliquots and baked at 175� C. for varying lengths of time as shown in
Following heat fixation the amount of free monomer was determined as described in Example 8. For each of the incubations shown, there was no monomeric rHA detectable.
The heat-fixed microspheres were disaggregated using a Fritsch centrifugal mill (as described above) and intact, air-containing microspheres recovered by the aforementioned flotation technique. The recovered microspheres were suspended in H2O containing Pluronic F68 (1 mgml−1) at a concentration of 0.5�108 capsules ml−1.
The resuspended, air-containing microspheres were subjected to increased atmospheric pressure by applying pressure with a 50 ml syringe whilst containing this suspension in a closed container (25 ml polystyrene container).
For each of the pressures assessed, the individual microsphere suspension was pressurised to the selected pressure and maintained at this pressure for 5 seconds before releasing the pressure. For each suspension analysed the pressure increase was performed 3 times. The pressure in the closed container was assessed by an RS hand-held manometer.
Following pressurisation the microsphere suspensions were assessed by light microscopy and image analysis and the % air-containing to non-air-containing microspheres assessed. This analysis is performed since only the air-containing microspheres are functional in enhancing ultrasound echocontrast.
As can be seen in
By careful control of the length of incubation at this particular temperature (175� C.) it is possible to produce batches of microspheres with different degrees of crosslinking which in turn are resistant to varying degrees of pressure increase.
Using this careful control of crosslinking by adjusting the length and temperature of incubation it is possible to produce batches of air-containing microspheres that are specifically designed to withstand a designated pressure increase.
The temperature used to crosslink the microspheres can vary infinitely, as can the length of incubation time.
An advantage of the process of the invention is that it enables the median size and size distribution of the microspheres to be controlled. However, one can further select desired sizes if one wishes, for example by flotation. In a homogeneous dispersion of microspheres, larger particles will rise to the surface faster than smaller particles due to the lower density (more encapsulated air) of the larger particles. Hence, by allowing the dispersion to stand, the particle size distribution will change at any level of the solution with respect to time.
Microspheres were dispersed in 2000 ml of aqueous solution containing 6% w/v sodium chloride and 0.1% w/v Pluronic F68 in a glass bottle giving a liquid column of approximately 165 mm. A sampling tube was placed 50 mm below the upper liquid surface to enable removal of samples at timed intervals.
By altering the standing time and sodium chloride concentration, it was possible to produce a variety of particle size distributions and classify microspheres down to 2 μm.
Other wet techniques for classification inclide hydrodynamic chromatography and field flow fractionation. 'Dry' techniques using the principles of elutriation and cross flow separation are commercially available in the form of the Microsplit (British Rem.), Zig-zag (Alpine) and Turbo (Nissuin) classifiers.
The elbow jet classifier produced by Nitettsu Mining Co uses a different principle (the Coanda Effect) which could also achieve good results for the classification of microspheres.
A solution of human albumin (5% w/v) is spray-dried at an inlet temperature of 220� C. and an air pressure of 1.5 bar as in General Preparation Example 1. The resulting particles are heat fixed for a period of 20 minutes at 175� C. in an air oven. The samples are deaggloinerated by milling with mannitol and the particles are resuspended in a solution of 10 mg/ml mannitol and 0.06 mg/ml pluronic F68. The intact particles are creamed off and the microsphere suspension is freeze-dried.
Particles predominantly of 10-20 μm are produced which contain air and are substantially pressure resistant.
Polylysine at a concentration of 5% w/v was resuspended with the microspheres of General Preparative Example 2 (100�106 particles/ml) and incubated overnight at 20� C. Mannitol and Pluronic F68 were added at the concentration described in Specific Example 1 and the suspension was subsequently flash frozen and freeze dried.
Hyaluronic acid at a concentration of 5% w/v was incubated overnight with resuspended microspheres prepared as in General Preparative Example 1 at 20� C. (100�106 microspheres/ml). Mannitol and Pluronic F68 were added to a concentration of 10 and 0.06 mg/ml respectively and the suspension then flash frozen and freeze dried.
Microspheres according to General Preparative Example 3 were resuspended in a solution of DMF (Dimethylformamide) at a concentration of 100�106 particles/ml. Acetic anhydride was added to give a final acid anhydride concentration of 100 mg/mil. The microsphere mixture was incubated at 20� C. for 1 hour then diluted with water and filtered and washed with excess water over a 1 hour period. The microspheres were formulated in Mannitol and Pluronic F68 as described above. This method imparts negative charges.
Microspheres according to General Preparative Example 1 were resuspended in an aqueous solution at a concentration of 100�106 particles/ml. An aqueous solution of carbodiimide was added to the microsphere suspension to give a final concentration of 100 mg/ml. After incubation at 16 hours at 20� C., excess reagent was quenched by the addition of glycine to an equivalent concentration and further incubation for 16 hours at 20� C. The microspheres were washed with water then formulated as described above. This procedure eliminates negative charges.
Microcapsules of general preparative method 2 were formulated with polaxamer 407 and mannitol at a concentration of 0.1 and 10 mg/ml respectively. The suspension was flash frozen and freeze dried as described in the earlier examples.
Poly-L-lysine (15-25 kDa) was added to the rHA feedstock (20% w/v) to a final concentration of 0.5% w/v prior to spray drying. The method of general example 2 was followed to yield microcapsules with increased positive charge upon the shell.
Poly-L-glutamate (15-30 kDa) was added to the rHA feddstock (20% w/v) to a final concentration of 0.5% w/v prior to spray drying. The method of general preparative example 2 was followed to yield microcapsules with increased negative charge upon the shell.
Microspheres of Specific Example 1 may be used in an in vivo analysis to establish the feasibility of delineating perfusion territories in the myocardium of a pig heart.
A 25 kg Yorkshire swine is anaesthetised and fully ventilated according to the methodology outlined in Ten Cate et al (1992) Cardiovascular Research 26, 32-39. A 5 French catheter is inserted via the femoral artery, ascending aorta and aortic root into the left ventricle. Injection of 4 million microcapsules of Specific Example 1 is made and 2 dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in the short axis plan using a Hewlett Packard sono's 1000, equipped with a 3.5 MHz transducer, is used to assess regional perfusion. Intense opacification of the myocardium was observed (see
Microcapsules of Specific Example 6 were injected into the ear vein of a mildly sedated New Zealand rabbit (4.5 kg) at a concentration of 300 million particles/ml. Femoral artery Doppler signals were assessed using an Interspect 7000 model equipped with a 10 MHz transducer. Baseline signals prior to contrast injection were obtained to enable comparison of Doppler signals before and after contrast injection. Once baseline signals were obtained, the instrument's time intensity gain controls were not altered.
Following contrast injection, visible prolonged Doppler enhancement of the myocardium was obtained, lasting for several beats or several minutes depending upon the dose size of contrast agent administered.
The T� was determined by videodensitometry of the spectral Doppler signals as follows. The gain settings were adjusted to give barely visible signals before contrast injection. As the contrast entered the femoral artery the signal increased, peaked and then decayed. Videodensitometry was performed on the individual peaks of flow and a time intensity curve plotted. The T� was calculated as the time taken for the contrast effect to diminish to half its peak value. Videodensitoinetry of spectral Doppler signals revealed a reproducible contrast effect following intravenous injection of the microcapsules which was significantly prolonged over the signals produced by microcapsules formulated according to PCT/GB92/00643.
Referenced by
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Cureton and Coles strike for Exeter City in a superb win at rivals Port Vale
Posted: February 27, 2013|
Just three days after a desperately disappointing defeat at Burton Albion, Exeter City returned to winning ways in style with a superb 2-0 win at second-placed Port vale last night.
First-half goals from Jamie Cureton, his 19th of the season, and captain Danny Coles did the damage for Exeter, who overcame the 77th minute dismissal of Mark Molesley to hold on for a richly deserved victory.
The Grecians made two changes to the side that crashed to defeat at Burton Albion. Artur Krysiak was deemed fit and able to resume his place between the sticks, while Matt Oakley came in for Jimmy Keohane. His absence from the substitutes' bench suggested he was injured.
Port Vale included former Exeter defender Richard Duffy at right-back, while League Two's top scorer Tom Pope started in attack alongside Calvin Andrew, who scored the Valiants' only goal in the 1-0 win at Torquay last Saturday.
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Exeter, with Cureton playing as a lone striker, were soon under the cosh and Vale's Daniel Jones headed tamely into the arms of Krysiak with the game's first chance. The Grecians responded with an Arron Davies long-ranger, which deflected behind for a corner, but despite three in quick succession from City, they ultimately came to nothing.
The first ten minutes were good for the Grecians though, and they got even better on 11 minutes. Molesley and Oakley did well to capitalise on John McCombe's poor clearance on the right and after biding their time and creating the angle, Oakley delivered a superb cross, which Cureton connected with to head City in front.
The ball took a deflection before passing Vale goalkeeper Chris Neal, but the ball looked to be going in regardless.
Doug Loft's 30-yard shot clipped the heels of an Exeter defender and flew narrowly wide of the upright before Molesley and Jones were booked after a bout of handbags, which came about after Molesley had felled the young full-back. It would later prove costly for the Exeter man.
The Grecians found attacking forays were few and far between, but when they did go forward, they looked threatening. Oakley was at the heart of most things and after a neat one-two with Cureton, he fed the ball wide to Molesley, who in turn fed Tom Doherty, but his shot screwed wide of the near post.
Scot Bennett then won his side a free-kick on the right touchline with a fine bit of skill, but he was cynically brought down. Oakley's free-kick caused havoc inside the box with Molesley forcing a superb save from Neal, but Coles was on hand to bundle home the loose ball to make it 2-0.
The home side were certainly rattled and began to lose their composure. Loft escaped with just a yellow card for a crude lunge on Molesley, who seemed like something of a marked man.
Jennison Myrie-Williams' low crossed fizzed across the face of goal as the home side built up a head of steam just before half-time and Loft saw an 18-yard half volley deflect wide. However, the Grecians were defending so well and were good value for their half-time lead with another performance of devastating counter-attacking play.
Rob Taylor and Louis Dodds were introduced by Vale boss Micky Adams at the break, but it was Exeter that started the better of the two sides with Oakley firing well wide after a short corner.
Pope was off target with a header from Loft's cross, but when their attacks broke down, Exeter countered well. Molesley forced Neal into a smart stop after a brilliant run from midfield, while Cureton could have done better after being found by Oakley.
With an hour gone, Exeter were still looking good value, so Adams brought on Hughes in place of McCombe. It was certainly a signal of the Valiants' intent by replacing a centre half for a striker and his first involvement was to rattle a volley narrowly wide of Krysiak's upright.
Exeter were having a few sniffs on the counter and Cureton curled a shot agonisingly wide from 18 yards after being found once again by the outstanding Oakley. However, the Grecians were reduced to ten men 13 minutes from time when Moseley was sent off for another off-the-ball incident. It was hard to see exactly what he had done, but it seemed he was given a straight red card.
That led to John O'Flynn coming on for Cureton, who almost netted his second goal seconds before going off, but he tried to set up Oakley and the chance went begging.
It was backs against the wall stuff for Exeter as the game entered the closing stages, but they defended as though their lives depended on it and threw themselves in the way of everything.
Pope thudded a shot against the base of the post and the ball hit the head of Krysiak before the Pole gathered the loose ball, but that was as close as the home side came despite an additional five minutes of injury time.
Port Vale (4-4-2): Neal; Duffy, McCombe, Purse, Jones; Myrie-Williams, Burge, Loft, Vincent (Taylor h-t); Pope, Andrew (Dodds h-t). Substitutes (not used): Yates, Shuker, Morsy, Birchall, Hughes.
Booking: Jones, Loft
Exeter City (4-5-1): Krysiak; Amankwaah, Baldwin, Coles, Woodman; Molesley, Oakley, Bennett, Doherty, Davies; Cureton. Substitutes (not used): Evans (gk), Tully, O'Flynn, Bauza, Dawson, Gosling, Moore-Taylor.
Goals: Cureton 11, Coles 33
Bookings: Molesley, Bennett
Referee: G Sutton (Lincolnshire)
Attendance: 4,480.

subset: commoncrawl


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Available on Tiesto's Musical Freedom imprint on March 31st.
Due Feb. 21st on Tiesto's Musical Freedom imprint.
Musical Freedom presents "Crank" by Joe Ghost. Available February 3.
New music from Tiesto's Musical Freedom imprint, due January 6th.
Update: Available now on Beatport. 7/18/13: Trap is an exciting dance music sub genre that has become a personal favorite of Tiësto who's been dropping the heavy bass in his sets throughout 2013. The world's most popular DJ cements his support for Trap with the July 30 release of "Trap Remix EP " – Musical [cont.]
Another taste of Tiesto's Club Life Vol. 3: Stockholm mix CD/album, hitting June 25th. This track will be available by itself on July 2nd.
Update: The track has been released and is available now on Beatport. 5/3/13: Rotterdam-based dj/producer Baggi Begovic, best known for his 2010 remix of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit", teams with Tiesto's Musical Freedom imprint for "Compromise". Look for it's release on May 7th.
Update: Out now on Beatport. R3hab teams with Tiesto's Musical Freedom imprint for this new track, "Skydrop". Look for it December 17th.
Update: Out now on Beatport. Fresh off the massive success of his recent single "Make The Crowd GO" Amsterdam's Alvaro is back in full force, this time for his debut release on Musical Freedom. "Make Me Jump" highlights Alvaro's talent as a young producer, serving as a prime example of his personal take on the [cont.]
For the second episode of Musical Freedom Radio, a guest mix from Showtek featuring the premiere of their upcoming track with Justin Prime, 'Cannonball'. Tracklisting: 00:38:00 Showtek – Slow Down (Original Mix) [Whitelabel] 06.29:00 Tiësto & Showtek – Hell Yeah! (Original Mix) [Musical Freedom] 11.28:00 Jordy Dazz & Mightyfools – Drum Fail (Original Mix) [Hysteria] [cont.]
- Alesso Signs To Def Jam And Releases "Tear The Roof Up" Single
- Kaskade To Release "Redux" EP
- Borgore Sets July 7th Date For "#NewGoreOrder" LP
- Deadmau5 Reveals Track Listing for 'while(1<2)' LP
- Deadmau5 Announces New Album 'while(1<2)' Set For Release June 17
- Questlove & Diplo Team For New VH1 Series, "Soundclash"
- DJ Dan – "Conjunction Funktion" [Remixes]
- A$AP Mob – "Hella Hoes (Thugli Remix)" [Free Download]
- Chris Lake – "Sundown (Chris Lake Remix)" [Preview]
- Flosstradamus – "Rebound" (feat. Elkka)
- Nicki Minaj – "Anaconda (Saint & Lambo Bootleg)" [Free Download]
- Deorro & D!RTY AUD!O – "Hit It" (feat. IE-Z) [Free Download]
- Ellie Goulding - "Goodness Gracious (The Chainsmokers Remix)"
Commented on by soundcloud.Com
- Dimitri Vegas, Like Mike, Diplo & Fatboy Slim - "Eparrei (W&W Remix)" (feat. Bonde Do Role & Pin)
Commented on by boogie bored
- Afrojack - "Forget The World" (Review)
Commented on by boogie bored
- DJ Dan - "Nothing But A Party" [Review]
Commented on by boogie bored
- Alvaro & Carnage - "The Underground"
Commented on by boogie bored
- Kelis - "Food" (Review)
Commented on by Hodges


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Dancing With The Stars
Kelly and Sharon Osbourne Attend DWTS Performance
The bonds made during Dancing with the Stars never die and if you needed further proof, check the audience from last night's performances. Former DWTS contestant Kelly Osbourne and her mother, Sharon, were in attendance to support her former partner Louis Van Amstel and Margaret Cho.
Kelly watched Margaret and Louis tell a story of having "pride while people are criticizing you." The sentiment went over judge Len Goodman's head, but Bruno Tonioli told Margaret "I praise you for waiving the rainbow flag. Keep waving it girl."
Margaret told co-host Brooke Burke that she and Louis wanted to celebrate pride and show themselves off, especially at a time when teen suicides in the gay community are rising. We're sure seeing Kelly there for support made the night even more special.
Source: Gather
Recap of DWTS Season 11, Week 3: Performance
Sneak Peek of DWTS Week 3 Results Show


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Welcome, curlers
The Triangle is a wonderfully cosmopolitan place, and Durham exemplifies that with an extra dose of quirkiness that is its attraction to many people.
So what better place than the Triangle to be a hotbed of the ancient and somewhat under-recognized sport of curling? And it's even better that Durham is the site of the first indoor ice rink devoted exclusively to the sport in the southeastern United States.
But beyond the "cool factor," it is an Olympic sport and, given the disappointing performance of the United States teams the past two winter Olympics, perhaps the Durham facility can help develop the sport's next superstar.
We don't know whether Olympic glory is on the minds of the folks whose passion for curling culminated in the groundbreaking Saturday for a 14,500-square-foot facility with our curling lanes that should be ready for play by October.
But it will be "world and Olympic-caliber ice," Mike Hartman, co-chairman of the Triangle Curling Club's building committee, said at the groundbreaking. The club hopes to host tournaments and will ask the U. S. Olympic Committee to designate its rink an Olympic training site.
Moving up from a succession of rented facilities to its own rink should enable the club to grow from its present membership of around 70 people. Clubs in similar-sized markets have doubled their membership with their own rinks, club officials said, and they think they could eventually draw 200 or more members.
The local club is part of a wave of interest that has been growing in the five-century-old sport since it was re-introduced in the Olympics in 1998, after an absence of more than seven decades. Estimates of the number of curlers vary, but range from 13,000 to 16,500 or so in more than 100 clubs around the country.
The timing of the new rink puts it in line to benefit from the quadrennial spiking of interest following the Olympics.
That interest surge is based in part on a misconception, Los Angeles Times writer Bill Plaschke argued in February, as the 2014 winter games were getting underway in Sochi, Russia.
"One of the attractions is that everybody thinks they can do it," Rick Patzke, the chief operating officer of USA Curling, told Plaschke. 'People think, 'I couldn't fly off the mountains on a ski, but I certainly (could) push a rock with a broom.'"
Continued Plaschke:
"For one, it's not a simple rock, but a chunk of granite that weighs about 40 pounds and is purchased for the Olympics from an island off the coast of Scotland, where curling was born in the 1500s.
"Also, it's not a real broom, but a $250 piece of sweeping equipment, a difference in perception that makes the players bristle."
We may not become as obsessed with curling as we are with basketball, but we may well one day be cheering champions in the sport.


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One of the most difficult things about working at ICANN is keeping all the conspiracies under wraps.
With an eagle-eyed community keeping tabs on the organisation's every move, the tiny tweaks that, left noticed, would irreversibly alter the entire domain name system keep getting picked up before they can work their magic.
We have decided to come clean with the latest example, henceforth to be known as the "organizational structure image conspiracy", or OSIO for short.
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We're getting married! We are psyched for the big day and can't wait to celebrate with all of you. This website is meant to make our lives, and by extension yours, easier. You will find no proposal stories or information about our wedding party here. What you will find is useful information for the venues, timing, hotel booking and all other details needed to navigate yourself through the long journey you are about to embark on with us, otherwise known as an Indian wedding.
Neil & Puja


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Clix makes sharing your holiday greetings to family and friends easier and more personal than ever! Click on the video and see who Clix can create a holiday message that is sure to bring smiles and joy to everyone who receives it.
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