Patent ID: 7510825

Claim:
A method of detecting PNOM-cells within a population of cells, comprising the steps of: (i) contacting the cell population with a PMBC, wherein said PMBC is according to the structure set forth in formula I; wherein G 1 , G 2 , G 3 and G 4 groups may be the same or different and are selected independently among hydrogen, COOH, SO 3 H and PO 3 H; at least one of G groups is other than hydrogen; M is selected among null, O, S, and Sâ€”S; Q 1 , Q 2 , Q 3 and Q 4 groups may be the same or different and are selected among null or (CH 2 ) k , k being an integer of 1-4; B 1 and B 2 may be same or different, selected from hydrogen, R 6 â€”Nâ€”R 7 , OH and â€”Oâ€”R 6 ; wherein R 6 or R 7 may be same or different, each being selected from hydrogen and C 1 , C 2 , C 3 or C 4 linear or branched, substituted or un-substituted alkyl; and (ii) determining the amount of PMBC bound to cells in the cell population; wherein an amount of PMBC bound to cells, which is significantly higher than the amount bound to control cells, indicates the presence of PNOM-cells within the examined cell population.