MRI contrast agents for angiography

Modern diagnostic method magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) usually uses contrast agents T1-type, which are based on Gd3+ complexes. Due to severe toxicity of free Gd3+ , it is desired to have thermodynamically stable and kinetically inert complexes with fast elimination from the body. This work summarizes information about a novel contrast agent based on ligand DO3AP (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1-methyl(alkyl)phosphinic-4,7,10- triacetic acid) with pendant hydrophobic dibenzylamino group which is able to interact hydrophobically with the macromolecule of serum albumin. The stability of supracomplex is dependent on pH value, i.e. on the protonation of the pendant amino group of the complex (pKA = 5.6) and this interaction was confirmed from 1 H-NMRD profile and fluorescent analysis. The compound was tested for its angiographic properties in vivo on rat model. Furthermore, other complexes of the ligand with trivalent lanthanides (Nd3+ , Eu3+ , Tb3+ , Dy3+ , Er3+ ) were characterized by various methods (XRD, luminescence, UV-VIS, 1 H-, 17 O- and 31 P-NMR). The cleavage of the benzyl groups affords ligand whose Ln3+ complexes possess pH dependent PARACEST effect. These complexes were characterized by XRD, luminescence and 1 H- and 31 P-NMR. Moreover, the novel ligands with modified length of pendant..