Philips signs contrast agent alliance

Philips Research has signed an agreement with the University of Urbino in Italy to research new contrast agents for medical imaging.

These agents will be based on the encapsulation of magnetic nanoparticles inside blood cells with the aim of length retention time.

At present, magnetic nanoparticle contrast agents are quickly excreted from the blood via the liver, limiting their use.

Under the terms of the partnership, the University of Urbino will seek to integrate these nanoparticles into red blood cells and their biological interactions in the human body.

Meanwhile, Philips research will assess the characteristics of these agents in its medical scanners.

Henk van Houten, senior vice-president of Philips Research and head of the Healthcare Research programme, said; “Nanoparticle blood pool contrast agents have already shown considerable promise in diagnostic imaging, but the short retention time of these particles in the body has always been a real challenge.”

He added the company hopes to boost the retention of these particles from minutes to hours and possibly days.

Last month, Philips announced the sale of around 383 million shares it owned in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to long-term financial investors and its 69.5 per cent stake in MedQuist to Cbay Systems Holdings.