title: Oligomerization of paramagnetic substrates result in signal amplification and can be used for MR imaging of molecular targets.
abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has evolved into a sophisticated, noninvasive imaging modality capable of high-resolution anatomical and functional characterization of transgenic animals. To expand the capabilities MRI, we have developed a novel MR signal amplification (MRamp) strategy based on enzyme-mediated polymerization of paramagnetic substrates into oligomers of higher magnetic relaxtivity. The substrates consist of chelated gadolinium covalently bound to phenols, which then serve as electron donors during enzymatic hydrogen peroxide reduction by peroxidase. The converted monomers undergo rapid condensation into paramagnetic oligomers leading to a threefold increase in atomic relaxtivity (R1/Gd). The observed relaxtivity changes are largely due to an increase in the rotational correlation time tau r of the lanthanide. Three applications of the developed system are demonstrated: (1) imaging of nanomolar amounts of an oxidoreductase (peroxidase); (2) detection of a model ligand using an enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay format; and (3) imaging of E-selectin on the surface of endothelial cells probed for with an anti-E-selectin-peroxidase conjugate. The development of "enzyme sensing" probes is expected to have utility for a number of applications including in vivo detection of specific molecular targets. One particular advantage of the MRamp technique is that the same paramagnetic substrate can be potentially used to identify different molecular targets by attaching enzymes to various antibodies or other target-seeking molecules.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, CNY-5, Rm. 5420, Building 149, 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA. abogdanov@helix.mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bogdanov
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matuszewski
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrovsky
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weissleder
mesh_terms: D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds