Luna proposed todevelop a diagnostic agent that would allow the use of MRI

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MRI is critical for the diagnosis and evaluation of many forms ofbrain and other cancers. "Primary malignant brain tumors cause13,000 deaths in the United States annually and survival ratesfollowing therapeutic intervention are among the lowest compared toother cancers," stated Robert Lenk, President of Luna's nanoWorksdivision. "The work we are doing with NIH allows us the opportunityto build on our existing contrast agent platform of carbonnanomedicines and ultimately improve the detection and diagnosis ofthese high risk brain tumors."

Luna's imaging technology can be modified to direct it toaccumulate at specific targets. Luna's MRI contrast agent prototypeis based on a modification of its TRIMETASPHERE® carbonnanomaterial known as the HYDROCHALARONE™, which has shownpromise to significantly enhance relaxivity, a property thatprovides for better imaging; is extremely stable; is water soluble;and has the potential to be modified to clear from the bloodstreamquickly or slowly, depending on the specific application. "Luna'sHydrochalarone technology platform can be modified to producetargeted contrast agents, which selectively highlight the tumorcells. Our hope is that our novel approach will provide betterresolution to radiologists, who in turn, will improve patientoutcomes," said Kent Murphy, Chairman and CEO of Luna InnovationsIncorporated.

Last November, Luna announced its first grant with the NIH usingthis carbon nanotechnology platform to improve the identificationof coronary artery disease. Under this program, Luna proposed todevelop a diagnostic agent that would allow the use of MRI,potentially providing a noninvasive measure to evaluate plaque inthe arteries without the use of ionizing radiation and catheters.

Luna's contrast agent prototype is currently in preclinical studiesat the NCI's Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory. Theoutcome of this characterization study is the report necessary foran Investigational New Drug application.
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About Luna Innovations:

Luna Innovations Incorporated (www.lunainnovations.com) developsand manufactures new-generation products for the healthcare,telecommunications, energy and defense markets. Through itsdisciplined commercialization business model, Luna has become arecognized leader in transitioning science to solutions. Luna isheadquartered in Roanoke, Virginia.

Luna's nanoWorks division (www.lunananoworks.com), located inDanville, Virginia, is developing pharmaceutical products empoweredby nanomaterials with applications in diagnostics and therapeutics.Luna's exclusive carbon nanomaterials offer unique physical,chemical, thermal, magnetic, biological, optical and electronicproperties that can be tailored to customer needs.