title: Design of Gd(III)-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents: static and transient zero-field splitting contributions to the electronic relaxation and their impact on relaxivity.
abstract: A multiple-frequency (9.4-325 GHz) and variable-temperature (276-320 K) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study on low molecular weight gadolinium(III) complexes for potential use as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents has been performed. Peak-to-peak linewidths Delta Hpp and central magnetic fields have been analyzed within the Redfield approximation taking into account the static zero-field splitting (ZFS) up to the sixth order and the transient ZFS up to the second order. Longitudinal electronic relaxation is dominated by the static ZFS contribution at low magnetic fields (B < 0.3 T) and by the transient ZFS at high magnetic fields (B > 1.5 T). Whereas the static ZFS clearly depends on the nature of the chelating ligand, the transient ZFS does not. For the relatively fast rotating molecules studied water proton relaxivity is mainly limited by the fast rotation and electronic relaxation has only a marked influence at frequencies below 30 MHz. From our EPR results we can conclude that electronic relaxation will have no influence on the efficiency of Gd(III)-based MRI contrast agents designed for studies at very high magnetic fields (B > 3T).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Meriem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benmelouka
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borel
authors.forename: Loick
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moriggi
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Helm
authors.forename: André E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Merbach
mesh_terms: D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D004583:Electrons; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions; D008024:Ligands; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011522:Protons; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D003287:Contrast Media; D007477:Ions; D008024:Ligands; D011522:Protons; D014867:Water; D005682:Gadolinium