The present invention relates to a contrast-enhanced diagnostic imaging
method for monitoring the efficacy of interventional therapies. The
contrast agents useful in this method comprise an image-enhancing moiety
(IEM) and a state-dependent tissue binding moiety (SDTBM). These contrast
agents exhibit state-dependent binding to one or more components of a
targeted tissue or tissue component and provide a detectable change in
the signal characteristics of the agent once bound to the targeted
tissue. As a result, these agents exhibit a binding affinity for, and
thus image contrast of, the targeted tissue which changes as the
tissue-state changes during therapy.