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Abstract

This invention relates to the preparation and use of novel open-chain or cyclic polypeptide constructs in which two or more polypeptide chains, in an open-chain construct, or one or more chains, in a cyclic construct, are chemically derivatized such that the resulting construct exhibits both metal-binding capability and tissue-, organ- or cell-targeting selectivity. In particular, the polypeptide constructs of the present invention comprise compounds of the formula (I): ##STR1## in which, 'B' is a hydrocarbon backbone, 'P' is a polypeptide capable of targeting particular cells, tissues or organs of the body, 'A' may be the group --NR'--NR'-- or the group --NR'-- NR'--L-- in which L may be an aliphatic or aromatic linker group, R, R', and R' may be the same or different and may be hydrogen or an aliphatic group, m is an integer.gtoreq.2, provided that the groups R, R', R', L and 'P' of a given chain may be the same or different from the groups R, R', R', L and 'P' of another chain, n is an integer.gtoreq.0; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The constructs of the present invention are capable of binding a variety of metallic species.

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First Claim