Polysaccharides as carriers for magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents: Synthesis and stability of a new amino acid linker derivative

Poly(para-phenylene ethynylene)s functionalized with Gd(III) chelates as potential MRI contrast agents

A poly(para-phenylene ethynylene) with water-solubilizing groups and Gd(III) chelates conjugated to the polymer backbone was designed and synthesized. Pre- and post-polymerization functionalization approaches were explored and the pre-polymerization approach for the introduction of the Gd(III) chelate was found to be more successful. The UV–vis absorption and fluorescence emission properties of the protected polymers were characterized and were found to be consistent with the results expected for this class of polymers. Removal of the protecting groups followed by chelation of Gd(III) led to a water-dispersible polymer. Relaxivity measurements were performed on this polymer with the aim of evaluating its potential as a new MRI contrast agent, and an r1 of 1.37 L mmol–1 s–1 at 310 K and 20 MHz was determined. These results, along with dynamic light scattering analyses, suggested that the polymers formed micrometre-sized assemblies in aqueous solution. Although the relaxivity was relatively modest, these results provide important insights into the assembly properties of this new class of polymers and into the design criteria for future agents.

Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-gadolinium (DTPA-Gd)-conjugated polysuccinimide derivatives as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents

Biocompatible polysuccinimide (PSI) derivatives conjugated with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid gadolinium (DTPA-Gd) were prepared as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. In this study, we synthesized PSI derivatives incorporating methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) as hydrophilic ligand, hexadecylamine as hydrophobic ligand, and DTPA-Gd as contrast agent. PSI was synthesized by the polycondensation polymerization of aspartic acid. All the synthesized materials were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). Critical micellization concentrations were determined using fluorescent probes (pyrene). Micelle size and shape were measured by electro-photometer light scattering (ELS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The formed micelle size ranged from 100 to 300 nm. The T1-weighted MR images of the phantom prepared with PSI-mPEG-C16-(DTPA-Gd) were obtained in a 3.0 T clinical MR imager, and the conjugates showed a great potential as MRI contrast agents.

Ionic complexation properties of per(3,6-anhydro)cyclodextrin derivatives towards lanthanides

Using per(3,6-anhydro)cyclodextrin derivatives [per(3,6-anhydro)CD], it was possible to produce new lanthanide chelates by careful choice of the size and functional groups. Heptakis(3,6-anhydro-2-O-methyl)cyclomaltoheptaose fulfils the best criteria for complexation of lanthanide ions. Nuclear magnetic resonance was used to derive the association constants and the stoichiometries of these new complexes. Finally, a three-dimensional structure of these complexes consistent with the NMR data is proposed, to ascertain the position of lanthanide in the cavity of the per(3,6-anhydro)CD. For the present purposes, heptakis(2-O-acetyl-3,6-anhydro)cyclomaltoheptaose, octakis(2-O-acetyl-3,6-anhydro)cyclomaltooctaose, heptakis(3,6-anhydro-2-O-methyl)cyclomaltoheptaose and octakis(3,6-anhydro-2-O-methyl)cyclomaltooctaose have been synthesized and purified.

Synthesis, characterization, and relaxivity of two linear Gd(DTPA)-polymer conjugates

Two linear polyamide conjugates of Gd(DTPA)2- were synthesized and characterized by high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). DTPA was copolymerized with two different diamines, 1,6-hexanediamine and trans-1,4-cyclohexanediamine, yielding the polymers DTPA-HMD and DTPA-CHD, with low polydispersity. Their molecular flexibility in solution was studied using 13C spin-lattice relaxation time measurements, indicating that the cyclohexanediamine linking moiety of the DTPA-HMD polymer is more rigid than that of DTPA-CHD. The influence of the flexibility of the linking functionalities on the relaxivity of the Gd3+-DTPA-polymer conjugates was studied by water nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD). The relaxivity of the Gd(DTPA-CHD) polymer was only slightly higher than that of the Gd(DTPA-HMD) polymer, and only two times higher than the usual values for small Gd-DTPA-like chelates. The low relaxivities obtained for both polymers, much lower than expected from the polymer apparent molecular weights, result from their substantial residual flexibility, and also from a too long, nonoptimal, value of the inner-sphere water exchange rate. These polymeric compounds are also cleared very quickly from the blood of rats, indicating that they are of limited value as blood pool contrast agents for MRA.

[GdPCP2A(H(2)O)(2)](-): a paramagnetic contrast agent designed for improved applications in magnetic resonance imaging

A novel ligand based on a pyridine-containing macrocycle bearing two acetic and one methylenephosphonic arms (PCP2A) has been synthesized. An efficient synthesis of PCP2A is based on the macrocyclization reaction between 2,6-bis(chloromethyl)pyridine and a 1,4, 7-triazaheptane derivative bearing a methylenephosphonate group on N-4. The Gd(III) complex of PCP2A displays characteristic properties which make it a very promising contrast agent for improved applications in magnetic resonance imaging. In fact it shows (i) a very high stability constant (log K(GdPCP2A) = 23.4) which should guarantee against the in vivo release of toxic free Gd(III) ions and free ligand molecules and (ii) a relaxivity that is about 2 times higher than the values reported for contrast agents currently used in the clinical practice. Its high relaxivity is the result of the presence of two water molecules in the inner coordination sphere and a significant contribution from water molecule(s) hydrogen bonded to the phosphonate group. Moreover, the inner sphere water molecules are involved in an exchange with the bulk water which is relatively fast. This property is important for the attainment of an even higher relaxivity once the molecular reorientation rate of the [GdPCP2A(H(2)O)(2)](-) moiety is lengthened by means of conjugation to a macromolecular substrate.

NMRD investigation of DyDTPA- and GdDTPA-labeled starch particles. Selection of a suitable suspension medium and influence of the starch matrix on relaxivity

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

The primary aim was to investigate the influence of the starch matrix on the T1 relaxivities of starch particles labeled with gadolinium and dysprosium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (GdDTPA-SP and DyDTPA-SP). Achieving this required the selection of a medium that was suitable for suspending the particles and that had field-independent T1 relaxation rates, thereby eliminating errors in relaxivity determinations resulting from a field-dependent background.

METHODS

GdDTPA-SP with low and high gadolinium content, DyDTPA-SP, and empty DTPA-SP were suspended in an aqueous medium containing 5% (w/w) of a polyethylene glycol-based block copolymer. 1/T1 NMRD profiles were obtained in the temperature range of 5 degrees to 35 degrees C.

RESULTS

Using the block copolymer, particles did not settle, and samples could be prepared at a low temperature to avoid particle degradation, the intrinsic T1 relaxation rate of the suspension medium was field-independent and identical to that of water from 25 degrees to 35 degrees C. The T1 relaxivities of DyDTPA-SP were higher than those of dysprosium diethylenetriamine pentaacetate-bis(methylamide) (DyDTPA-BMA) and decreased with increasing magnetic field strength. The T1 relaxivity of GdDTPA-SP was higher than that of GdDTPA at all fields, and decreased with decreasing temperature and increasing gadolinium content.

CONCLUSIONS

The GdDTPA-SP results showed that the particulate starch matrix served a dual role, with opposing influences on relaxivity. It provided a means for increasing the rotational correlation time (tau R), which resulted in higher relaxivities. However, it also retarded radial diffusion of water molecules within the particle interior, which significantly counteracted the enhancing effect of tau R. For DyDTPA-SP, the starch matrix provided an additional diamagnetic contribution, resulting in relaxivities higher than those of DyDTPA-BMA. The block copolymer was suitable as a suspension medium for DyDTPA-SP and GdDTPA-SP and should also be applicable for other particulates.

An ESR assay for alpha-amylase activity toward succinylated starch, amylose and amylopectin

The esterification of the three polysaccharides, starch, amylose and amylopectin was carried out in pyridine-DMSO by succinic anhydride. The carboxylic groups in the succinylated polysaccharides were measured by FT-IR spectroscopy. The succinic derivatives were tested as alpha-amylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucano hydrolase, E.C. 3.2.1.1) substrates. A colorimetric assay of the alpha-amylase activity indicated that this enzyme is active on succinic esters of starch and amylose and that the activity shows a linear decrease with the number of succinic units introduced into the polysaccharide. Since the colorimetric test was not suitable for the detection of the alpha-amylase activity when succinylated amylopectin was the substrate, we set-up an assay based on the labeling by a paramagnetic probe of the free carboxylic groups of succinylated polysaccharides. The kinetics of the alpha-amylase reaction were monitored by ESR spectroscopy through the increase of the mobility of the paramagnetic probe. The spin label used was the commercially available 4-amino-tempo. By this method we demonstrated that alpha-amylase is active on succinylated amylopectin. The utility of the assay for monitoring alpha-amylase activity when other methods (i.e. colorimetric tests) fail, is discussed.

Investigation of lanthanide-based starch particles as a model system for liver contrast agents

Gadolinium and dysprosium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-labeled starch microparticles (Gd-DTPA-SP and Dy-DTPA-SP) were investigated as model liver contrast agents. The liver contrast efficacy of particles with low and high metal contents was compared in two imaging models: in vivo rat liver and ex vivo perfused rat liver. The biodistribution of intravenously injected particles was also assessed by ex vivo relaxometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry of tissues. All particles reduced the liver signal intensity on T2-weighted spin-echo and gradient-recalled echo images as a result of susceptibility effects. Because of their higher magnetic susceptibility, the Dy-DTPA-SP were more effective negative contrast enhancers than the Gd-DTPA-SP. On T1-weighted spin-echo images, only the Gd-DTPA-SP with low metal content significantly increased the liver signal intensity. In addition, these low-loading Gd-DTPA-SP markedly reduced the blood T1. The two latter observations were not consistent with the anticipated blood circulation time of microparticles, but were a result of the lower stability of these particles in blood compared with Gd-DTPA-SP, which has a high metal content. Regardless of stability or imaging conditions, the paramagnetic starch particles investigated showed potential as negative liver contrast enhancers. However, the observed accumulation of particles in the lungs represented a biological limitation for their use as contrast agents.

Preparation of O-(Aminopropyl)inulin

Inulin ethers carrying primary amino groups have many potential applications. O-(Aminopropyl)inulin is obtained from O-(cyanoethyl)inulin by reduction of the nitrile groups. Heterogeneously catalyzed hydrogenation using Raney-cobalt as the catalyst resulted in only partial conversion of the O-cyanoethyl into O-aminopropyl groups. Complete conversion of the nitriles to primary amines was achieved by a homogeneous reduction with an excess of sodium borohydride and cobaltous chloride or with metals in liquid ammonia-methanol. Optimal results were obtained with the latter method; 83% of the substituents were converted into primary amines and 17% were lost by dealkylation.