Synthesis of a novel amphiphilic GdPCTA-[12] derivative as a potential micellar MRI contrast agent

Nanostructured gadolinium(III) micelles: Synthesis, characterization, cytotoxic activities, and MRI applications in vivo

Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are used in around 40 % of MRI procedures. Despite initial perceptions of minimal risk, their long-term use has emphasized the need to reduce toxicity and develop more efficient GBCAs with extended blood retention. Advancements in nanomaterials have led to improved GBCAs, enhancing MRI diagnostics. This study synthesizes and characterizes nanostructured gadolinium(III) micelles as superior MRI contrast agents. The complexes, [Gd(L)2], where L is a ligand of the N-alkyl-N-methylglucamine surfactant series (L8, L10 or L12, L10), form nanostructured micelles in aqueous solution. Gd(L8)2 and Gd(L10)2 relaxivities remained stable across concentrations. Compared to Gd-DTPA, Gd(III) micelles showed enhanced T1-weighted MRI contrast. Gd(L12)2 micelles exhibited cytotoxicity against B16F10 melanoma cells (IC50 42.5 ± 2.2 μM) and L292L929 fibroblasts (IC50 52.0 ± 2.5 μM), with a selectivity index of 1.2. In vivo application in mice brain T2-weighted images suggests nanostructured Gd(III) micelles are promising MRI contrast agents for targeting healthy organs or tumors.

Effect of hydration equilibria on the relaxometric properties of Gd(III) complexes: new insights into old systems

We present a detailed relaxometric and computational investigation of three Gd(III) complexes that exist in solution as an equilibrium of two species with a different number of coordinated water molecules: [Gd(H2O)q]3+ (q = 8, 9), [Gd(EDTA)(H2O)q]- and [Gd(CDTA)(H2O)q]- (q = 2, 3). 1H nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) data were recorded from aqueous solutions of these complexes using a wide Larmor frequency range (0.01-500 MHz). These data were complemented with 17O transverse relaxation rates and chemical shifts recorded at different temperatures. The simultaneous fit of the NMRD and 17O NMR data was guided by computational studies performed at the DFT and CASSCF/NEVPT2 levels, which provided information on Gd⋯H distances, 17O hyperfine coupling constants and the zero-field splitting (ZFS) energy, which affects electronic relaxation. The hydration equilibrium did not have a very important effect in the fits of the experimental data for [Gd(H2O)q]3+ and [Gd(CDTA)(H2O)q]-, as the hydration equilibrium is largely shifted to the species with the lowest hydration number (q = 8 and 2, respectively). The quality of the analysis improves however considerably for [Gd(EDTA)(H2O)q]- upon considering the effect of the hydration equilibrium. As a result, this study provides for the first time an analysis of the relaxation properties of this important model system, as well as accurate parameters for [Gd(H2O)q]3+ and [Gd(CDTA)(H2O)q]-.

Development, synthesis, and 68Ga-Labeling of a Lipophilic complexing agent for atherosclerosis PET imaging

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Atherosclerosis accounts for 50% of deaths in western countries. This multifactorial pathology is characterized by the accumulation of lipids and inflammatory cells within the vascular wall, leading to plaque formation. We describe herein the synthesis of a PCTA-based ⁶⁸Ga³⁺ chelator coupled to a phospholipid biovector 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE), which is the main constituent of the phospholipid moiety of High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) phospholipid moiety. The resulting ⁶⁸Ga-PCTA-DSPE inserted into HDL particles was compared to ¹⁸F-FDG as a PET agent to visualize atherosclerotic plaques. Our agent markedly accumulated within mouse atheromatous aortas and more interestingly in human endarterectomy carotid samples. These results support the potential use of ⁶⁸Ga-PCTA-DSPE-HDL for atherosclerosis PET imaging.

Synthesis of an Amphiphilic Bis-Aqua Gd(OBETA) Complex for the Preparation of High-Relaxivity Supramolecular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Probes

Prompted by the favourable relaxometric, thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the bis-hydrated Gd(OBETA) (OBETA=2,2'-oxybis(ethylamine)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid) complex, a novel derivative tailored with an n-hexadecyl chain was synthesised. The amphiphilic gadolinium complex was designed and prepared with the aim of obtaining high relaxivity supramolecular aggregates by self-assembly in micelles and liposomes. Thus, lipidic nanoparticles were prepared and characterised by dynamic light scattering and ¹ H NMR relaxometry. Relaxivity values of up to 48.3 mm^-1  s^-1 (20 MHz and 298 K) were registered in liposomal aggregates. The binding to human serum albumin (HSA), evaluated both in terms of affinity and relaxometric properties of the supramolecular adduct, yielded exceptionally high relaxivity values (71.4 mm^-1  s^-1 at 30 MHz and 298 K).

Gadolinium(III) Complexes with N-Alkyl-N-methylglucamine Surfactants Incorporated into Liposomes as Potential MRI Contrast Agents

Complexes of gadolinium(III) with N-octanoyl-N-methylglucamine (L8) and N-decanoyl-N-methylglucamine (L10) with 1 : 2 stoichiometry were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and molar conductivity measurements. The transverse (r 2) and longitudinal (r 1) relaxivity protons were measured at 20 MHz and compared with those of the commercial contrasts. These complexes were incorporated in liposomes, resulting in the increase of the vesicle zeta potential. Both the free and liposome-incorporated gadolinium complexes showed high relaxation effectiveness, compared to commercial contrast agent gadopentetate dimeglumine (Magnevist). The high relaxivity of these complexes was attributed to the molecular rotation that occurs more slowly, because of the elevated molecular weight and incorporation in liposomes. The results establish that these paramagnetic complexes are highly potent contrast agents, making them excellent candidates for various applications in molecular MR imaging.

Gadolinium-based contrast agents targeted to amyloid aggregates for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease by MRI

While important efforts were made in the development of positron emission tomography (PET) tracers for the in vivo molecular diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, very few investigations to develop magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes were performed. Here, a new generation of Gd(III)-based contrast agents (CAs) is proposed to detect the amyloid β-protein (Aβ) aggregates by MRI, one of the earliest biological hallmarks of the pathology. A building block strategy was used to synthesize a library of 16 CAs to investigate structure-activity relationships (SARs) on physicochemical properties and binding affinity for the Aβ aggregates. Three types of blocks were used to modulate the CA structures: (i) the Gd(III) chelates (Gd(III)-DOTA and Gd(III)-PCTA), (ii) the biovectors (2-arylbenzothiazole, 2-arylbenzoxazole and stilbene derivatives) and (iii) the linkers (neutrals, positives and negatives with several lengths). These investigations revealed unexpected SARs and a difficulty of these probes to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). General insights for the development of Gd(III)-based CAs to detect the Aβ aggregates are described.