Method, Device and Marker Substance Kit for Multiparametric X-ray Fluorescence Imaging

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

The patent discloses an advanced method, imaging system, and marker kit for multiparametric X-ray fluorescence imaging of biological or living samples. The system allows simultaneous and highly sensitive tracking of multiple marker substances—each with distinct X-ray fluorescence lines—within a sample or organism. These marker substances can be bound to drugs, ligands, or cells, enabling researchers and clinicians to map the spatial and temporal distribution of various substances, such as multiple drugs or immune cell types, with minimal radiation exposure and high signal clarity.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Monitoring the distribution and pharmacokinetics of multiple drugs in living organisms during multi-drug therapies (multimedication studies).
• Simultaneous in-vivo tracking of different immune cell types for research or clinical diagnostics (e.g., monitoring immunotherapy or inflammation).
• Multiparametric tumor diagnostics, such as characterizing tumor subtypes by simultaneously detecting different antibodies or markers.
• Studying the interaction and biodistribution of drug carriers (e.g., nanoparticles) and their cargos in drug development.
• Comparative efficacy studies of new vs. established drugs in preclinical or clinical trials.
• Investigating the organ-specific accumulation, transport, and release of therapeutic agents or biological cells in model organisms or patients.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables simultaneous, spatially resolved imaging of multiple substances in a single sample or organism with minimal radiation dose.
• Allows direct and quantitative comparison of the kinetics and distribution of different drugs, biomarkers, or cell types—unachievable with conventional imaging techniques like PET or SPECT.
• Enhances drug development by providing detailed pharmacokinetic profiles and insights into drug-drug or drug-target interactions.
• Reduces the need for multiple animal experiments or sequential studies, as various comparisons can be made within a single subject.
• Improves accuracy and specificity in diagnostics, particularly for complex conditions requiring multiplexed analysis (e.g., multi-parametric tumor characterization, immunological disorders).
• Facilitates background noise minimization and maximized sensitivity via optimized marker and X-ray energy selection.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

A method for multi-parametric x-ray fluorescence imaging with maximized detection sensitivity and minimized radiation dose for a biological/living sample (10) containing a first marker substance comprises the steps of irradiation of the sample (10) with x-ray radiation (1), with x-ray fluorescence (2) of the first marker substance being excited, spatially resolved detection of the x-ray fluorescence (2) of the first marker substance, and determination of a distribution of the first marker substance in the sample (10) from the x-ray fluorescence (2) of the first marker substance, wherein the sample (10) contains at least one further marker substance which is excited to x-ray fluorescence (2) by the x-ray radiation (1), wherein fluorescence lines (3) of the first and the at least one further marker substances are different, at least one of the first and the at least one further marker substances is coupled with active ingredient molecules and/or ligand molecules provided for a specific interaction with the sample (10) or contained in cells, in order to be able to trace these, the detection comprises a spectrally resolved detection of the x-ray fluorescence (2) of the first and the at least one further marker substances, and additionally at least one distribution of the at least one further marker substance in the sample (10) is determined from the detected x-ray fluorescence (2) of the first and the at least one further marker substances. An imaging device (100) for multi-parametric x-ray fluorescence imaging and an optimized selection method for a marker substance kit for introducing marker substances into a sample (10) are also described.