A Medical Imaging Breakthrough
A new functional imaging method that holds the promise of being more sensitive and safer for detecting cancers and other critical diseases. Designated by the US FDA as a “Breakthrough Device”, MagSense® technology will help transform cancer care.
Specialized bio-safe magnetic nanoparticles are coated with tumor targeting antibodies which circulate through normal blood flow or local injection and are able to find and bind to a tumor. High sensitivity magnetic sensors are able to locate the magnetic particles that become bound to the tumor.
How is MagSense® technology better than other imaging methods?
MagSense® technology does not use ionizing radiation, radioactive tracers, or strong magnetic fields. And unlike existing imaging methods that can only identify a “region of interest” and can not differentiate benign tumors from malignant cancer, MagSense® nanoparticles are designed to be detectable only when attached to cancer cells.
MagSense® Advantages
More Accurate
The bio-functionalized nanoparticles detect actual tumor cells and unlike mammograms or ultrasound the signal is not affected by the surrounding tissue.
Safer for Patients
The iron oxide nanoparticles are made of bio-safe materials, require no radiation, and will eliminate unnecessary biopsy procedures.
Less Expensive
The instrument system is less expensive than MRI or PET/CT scanners and will limit the need for costly surgical biopsies.
How does MagSense® imaging technology work?
Based on the principles of superparamagnetic relaxometry, the tiny magnetic nanoparticles produce a detectable magnetic signature if attached to the targeted diseased tissue because they “relax” slowly from a brief weak magnetic field. If there is no tumor present, the bio-safe nanoparticles relax too quickly to be detectable and harmlessly circulate, eventually being broken down by the liver through normal metabolic processes.
How will it change cancer detection?
Most cancers are asymptomatic, growing unnoticed and undetected until the tumor has grown large enough to cause identifiable symptoms. Imaging methods like X-rays, ultrasound, and MRI are only useful in detecting later stage cancers when the tumor has grown to be tens- or hundreds-of-millions of cells. As a result, conventional cancer treatments start after a cancer has grown large and has developed defensive mechanisms or has already progressed and spread.
Additionally, because current methods cannot distinguish benign tumors from true cancers, invasive biopsy procedures are needed to confirm if it is truly cancer, often resulting in needless patient anxiety.
A Safer, Non-Invasive Solution
- Physician identifies need for imaging test based on clinical assessment of symptoms, risk factors or other diagnostic indicators.
- Patient given an injection of the cancer specific MagSense nanoparticles.
- Patient positioned under magnetic sensor while brief magnetic field applied. Measurement time is only a few minutes.
- Physician receives functional imaging results indicating if tumor is present.
MagSense® Nanoparticles
MagSense® nanoparticles are specially formulated as an injectable solution for each type of cancer. Combining the superparamagnetic properties of our proprietary PrecisionMRX® iron oxide nanoparticles with tumor targeting antibodies, each MagSense test is designed to maximize sensitivity for detection while minimizing non-specific uptake or off-target signals.
Magnetite Nanoparticle Core
Uniformly Sized Superparamagnetic Fe3O4.
Protective Polymer Coating
Monolayer provides stability in aqueous suspensions.
Stealth Coating – PolyEthylene Glycol
Minimizes opsonization in biological applications.
Antibody Conjugates
Provides molecular specificity for targeting cells.
BreastCancer
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in women and the second most common cancer diagnosed in women with approximately 20% of primary tumor breast cancers being identified as HER2-positive.
ProstateCancer
Prostate cancer is the second most frequent form of cancer found in men with approximately 1 in 7 men being diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
OvarianCancer
Only about 20% of ovarian cancers are found at an early stage because ovarian cancer is largely asymptomatic.