Patent ID: 8795731

Claim:
An implantable device for imaging detection of reactive oxygen species associated with aberrant clinical conditions, comprising a first chamber having an interior cavity including therein a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging component and an exterior semi-permeable membrane encapsulating the ROS scavenging component within the first chamber; said ROS scavenging component being polymeric nanoparticles encapsulating a non-metallic ROS scavenging agent selected from the group consisting of catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and glutathione, and said ROS scavenging component capable of scavenging reactive oxygen species under a normal physiological condition; a second chamber having an interior cavity including therein nanoparticles containing one or more imaging agent and an exterior semi-permeable membrane encapsulating the nanoparticles containing imaging agent within the second chamber; and the first chamber and the second chamber joined in a non-communicating manner, each chamber communicating with an aqueous environment through the semi-permeable membrane thereof, permitting diffusion of the reactive oxygen species therethrough, such that said ROS scavenging component in the first chamber protects the nanoparticles containing imaging agent in the second chamber from the reactive oxygen species under the normal physiological condition; said nanoparticles containing imaging agent in the second chamber incurring an imaging detectable change in the presence of an elevated non-physiological level of the reactive oxygen species in vivo associated with an aberrant clinical condition when scavenging of the reactive oxygen species by the ROS scavenging component is insufficient, thereby indicating the presence of an elevated non-physiological level of the reactive oxygen species.