T1 measurements in cell cultures: a new tool for characterizing contrast agents at 1.5T

Gd loading by hypotonic swelling: an efficient and safe route for cellular labeling

Cells incubated in hypo-osmotic media swell and their membranes become leaky. The flow of water that enters the cells results in the net transport of molecules present in the incubation medium directly into the cell cytoplasm. This phenomenon has been exploited to label cells with MRI Gd-containing contrast agents. It has been found that, in the presence of 100 mM Gd-HPDO3A in an incubation medium characterized by an overall osmolarity of 160 mOsm l⁻¹, each cell is loaded with amounts of paramagnetic complex ranging from 2 × 10⁹ to 2 × 10¹⁰ depending on the cell type. To obtain more insight into the determinants of cellular labeling by the 'hypo-osmotic shock' methodology, a study on cell viability, proliferation rate and cell morphology was carried out on J774A.1 and K562 cells as representative of cells grown in adhesion and suspended ones, respectively. Moreover a comparison of the efficiency of the proposed method with established cell labeling procedures such as pinocytosis and electroporation was carried out. Finally, the effects of the residual electric charge, the size and some structural features of the metal complex were investigated. In summary, the 'hypotonic shock' methodology appears to be an efficient and promising tool to pursue cellular labeling with paramagnetic complexes. Its implementation is straightforward and one may foresee that it will be largely applied in in vitro cellular labeling of many cell types.

MRI to detect atherosclerosis with gadolinium-containing immunomicelles targeting the macrophage scavenger receptor

The ability to specifically image macrophages may enable improved detection and characterization of atherosclerosis. In this study we evaluated the in vitro uptake of gadolinium (Gd)-containing immunomicelles (micelles linked to macrophage-specific antibody), micelles, and standard contrast agents by murine macrophages, and sought to determine whether immunomicelles and micelles improve ex vivo imaging of apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) murine atherosclerosis. Murine RAW 264.7 macrophages were incubated with Gd-DTPA, micelles, and immunomicelles. Cell pellets were prepared and imaged using a 1.5 T MR system with an inversion recovery spin-echo sequence to determine the in vitro T1 values. Ex vivo analysis of mouse aortas was performed using a 9.4T MR system with a high-spatial-resolution sequence (78x39x78 microm3). The T1 value was significantly decreased in cells treated with micelles compared to Gd-DTPA (P<0.0001), and in cells incubated at 4 degrees C with immunomicelles compared to micelles (P<0.05). Ex vivo MRI signal intensity (SI) was significantly increased by 81% and 20% in aortas incubated with immunomicelles and micelles, respectively. Confocal microscopy demonstrated in vitro and ex vivo uptake of fluorescent immunomicelles by macrophages. Immunomicelles and micelles improve in vitro and ex vivo MR detection of macrophages, and may prove useful in the detection of macrophage-rich plaques.

MR imaging of biodegradable polymeric microparticles: a potential method of monitoring local drug delivery

Gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) was encapsulated into biodegradable, bioadhesive polymeric microparticles to enable noninvasive monitoring of their local intravesical delivery with MRI. The microparticles were characterized by contrast agent encapsulation and release kinetics, T(1) relaxation rates, and contrast enhancement in vivo. The level of Gd-DTPA loading into microparticles was 14.3 +/- 0.6 mug/mg polymer. The measured T(1) relaxation rates of the microparticles showed a direct dependence on Gd-DPTA content. Both 1.5T and 4.7T MR scanners were used to image murine bladders instilled intravesically with Gd-DTPA-loaded particles in vivo. MR images showed ring-shaped regions of enhancement inscribing the bladder wall, which were attributed to the microparticles that were preferentially adherent to the mucosa lining the urothelium. The images of controls exhibited no such enhancement. The normalized signal intensities measured from post-instillation images were significantly greater (P < 0.05) than those in the pre-instillation images. Contrast enhancement was observed for at least 5 days after the initial instillation, although the enhancement decreased due to microparticle degradation or mucosa renewal. The localized distribution of biodegradable, bioadhesive microparticles encapsulating Gd-DTPA was successfully visualized with MRI in vivo, allowing particle-mediated delivery to be temporally and spatially monitored noninvasively.

Magnetic resonance imaging visualization of targeted cells by the internalization of supramolecular adducts formed between avidin and biotinylated Gd3+ chelates

The high binding affinity between avidin and biotin has been exploited to develop a procedure for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visualization of target cells. SHIN3 and PANC1 tumor cell lines have been used as target cells because they possess on their membranes galactosyl receptors able to bind avidin molecules. Avidin-Gd chelate adducts have been built by using two Gd complexes containing one (Gd-I) and two (Gd-II) biotin residues, respectively. The relaxivities of such supramolecular adducts are significantly higher than those shown by free Gd-I and Gd-II. There is evidence of the occurrence of multilayered adducts in which the bis-biotinylated Gd(3+) complex acts as a bridge between adjacent avidin molecules. MRI differentiation of labeled versus unlabeled cells has been attained when approximately 6 x 10(8) Gd units were internalized in each cell. Furthermore, there is a marked decrease in the measured intracellular T(1) relaxivity as the number of internalized Gd complexes increases, probably owing to too short relaxation times of endosomic water protons with respect to their diffusion lifetime.

Detection and Quantification of Lanthanide Complexes in Cell Lysates by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Gadolinium (III) complexes are under intense scrutiny as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. Although currently used mainly as extracellular agents, there is a growing interest to exploit their contrast enhancing ability in the intracellular environment. To ascertain the preservation of their chemical integrity upon the intracellular entrapment, it is necessary to have a method for their dosage in the cell lysates. Herein, a mass spectrometric method for detection and quantification of gadolinium complexes in cell lysates is reported. The detection by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was carried out by using a non-acidic matrix (2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone), which does not allow any leakage of gadolinium from the complex. Quantification has been possible by using as an internal standard an ytterbium complex with the same ligand of the analyte. Ytterbium was chosen because, among the lanthanides, it is the one with the isotopic distribution pattern the most similar to that of gadolinium. Sensitivity was enough to detect low micromolar quantities of a cationic complex and high micromolar quantities of a neutral complex in cell lysates of rat hepatoma cells. In the case of anionic complexes, sensitivity was too low for quantitative analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the quantification of metal complexes by MALDI-TOF-MS.

Improved route for the visualization of stem cells labeled with a Gd-/Eu-chelate as dual (MRI and fluorescence) agent

A simple labeling procedure of stem/progenitor cells based on the use of Gd-HPDO3A and Eu-HPDO3A, respectively, is described. The Gd-chelate acts as T(1)-agent for MRI visualization, whereas the corresponding Eu-chelate acts as reporter in fluorescence microscopy. Owing to their substantial chemical equivalence, the two chelates are equally internalized in EPCs (endothelial progenitor cells), thus allowing their visualization by both techniques. The lanthanide chelates are entrapped in endosomic vesicles and the labeled cells retain biological activity with preservation of viability and pro-angiogenesis capacity. Hyperintense spots in MR have been observed for Gd-labeled EPCs injected under mice kidney capsule or grafted on a subcutaneous Matrigel plug up to 14 days after transplantation.

Hollow fiber bioreactor: New development for the study of contrast agent transport into hepatocytes by magnetic resonance imaging

The aim of our study was to develop a magnetic resonance (MR)-compatible in vitro model containing freshly isolated rat hepatocytes to study the transport of hepatobiliary contrast agents (CA) by MR imaging (MRI). We set up a perfusion system including a perfusion circuit, a heating device, an oxygenator, and a hollow fiber bioreactor (HFB). The role of the porosity and surface of the hollow fiber (HF) as well as the perfusate flow rate applied on the diffusion of CAs and O2 was determined. Hepatocytes were isolated and injected in the extracapillary space of the HFB (4 x 10(7) cells/mL). The hepatocyte HFB was perfused with an extracellular CA, gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA), and gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA), which also enters into hepatocytes. The HFB was imaged in the MR room using a dynamic T1-weighed sequence. No adsorption of CAs was detected in the perfusion system without hepatocytes. The use of a membrane with a high porosity (0.5 microm) and surface (420 cm2), and a high flow rate perfusion (100 mL/min) resulted in a rapid filling of the HFB with CAs. The cellular viability of hepatocytes in the HFB was greater than 85% and the O2 consumption was maintained over the experimental period. The kinetics of MR signal intensity (SI) clearly showed the different behavior of Gd-BOPTA that enters into hepatocytes and Gd-DTPA that remains extracellular. Thus, these results show that our newly developed in vitro model is an interesting tool to investigate the transport kinetics of hepatobiliary CAs by measuring the MR SI over time.

Combination of transfection agents and magnetic resonance contrast agents for cellular imaging: relationship between relaxivities, electrostatic forces, and chemical composition

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in electrostatic and magnetic resonance (MR) properties observed when MR contrast agents (CAs) (Feridex, MION-46L, or G5-dendrimer-DOTA-Gd) are combined with transfection agents (TAs) under various conditions for use as a CA-TA complex basis for cellular labeling and MRI. CAs were incubated with various classes of TAs for 0-48 hr in solutions of varying concentrations and pH values. NMR relaxation rates (1/T(1), 1/T(2)), MRI and zeta potential (ZP) of CA-TA solutions were measured. TAs decreased the 1/T(1) and 1/T(2) of G5-DOTA-Gd, Feridex, and MION-46L by 0-95%. Altering the pH of G5-DOTA-Gd-TA decreased the T(1)-weighted signal intensity (SI) on MRI from 0 to 78%. Measured ZP values for G5-DOTA-Gd, Feridex, and MION-46L were -51, -41, and -2.0 mV, respectively. The TA LV had a negative ZP, while the other TAs had ZPs ranging from +20 to +65 mV. The alteration of the ZP and NMR relaxivities of the MR CAs, Feridex, MION-46L, and G5-DOTA-Gd by TAs has been demonstrated. These results enhance our understanding of the relationship between electrostatic and MR properties.

Innovative magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic agents based on paramagnetic Gd(III) complexes

Gd(III) complexes are under intense scrutiny as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They act by enhancing tissutal proton relaxation rates. Much has already been done in order to get an in-depth understanding of the relationships between structure, dynamics, and contrastographic ability of these paramagnetic complexes. Their potential in the assessment of flow, perfusion, and capillary permeability has already been established. The next challenges are in the field of molecular imaging applications, which would allow the attainment of early diagnosis based on the recognition of specific reporters of the onset of the pathological state. To this end, Gd(III) complexes have to be endowed with improved targeting capabilities by conjugating suitable recognition synthons on their surfaces. Small peptides are candidates of choice for the attainment of this goal. Moreover, the intrinsic low sensitivity of the NMR techniques implies the need to deliver large amounts of contrast agents to the target in order to get its visualization in the resulting images. Highly efficient delivery systems have been identified, which bring a great promise for the development of innovative diagnostic agents based on Gd(III) complexes.

Insights into the use of paramagnetic Gd(III) complexes in MR-molecular imaging investigations

Can gadolinium III [Gd(III)] complexes be considered good candidates for magnetic resonance (MR)-molecular imaging studies? In this review article, we examine the principal issues that are the basis of successful use of Gd-based protocols in molecular imaging applications. High relaxivity is the primary requisite. Therefore, the design of such paramagnetic probes has to be pursued keeping in mind the relationships between structure, dynamics, and the relevant parameters involved in paramagnetic relaxation processes. Moreover, the limited number of target molecules on cellular membranes makes it necessary to define strategies aimed at delivering many Gd-containing moieties to the sites of interest. Examples are reported for the attainment of very high relaxivities for the design of new routes for pursuing the accumulation of small sized Gd(III) complexes at the targeting sites. An efficient cellular uptake of Gd-containing probes is the key step for attaining the visualization of targeted cells by MR imaging, and selected examples are reported. In this context, the problem of the assessment of the minimum amount of Gd(III) complexes necessary for the MR imaging-visualization of cells has been addressed by reporting the authors' observations on the cell-internalization of Gd(III) complexes. A particularly efficient delivery system is represented by Gd-loaded apoferritin, which allows the MR visualization of hepatocytes when the number of Gd-complexes per cell is 4 +/- 1 x 10(7). Finally, the potential of responsive systems is considered by outlining the exploitation of the amplification effect brought about by the action of a specific enzymatic activity on the relaxivity of a suitably functionalized Gd(III) complex.