Facile preparation of a new gadofullerene-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent with high 1H relaxivity.
A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent based on the trimetallic nitride templated (TNT) metallofullerene Gd(3)N@C(80) was synthesized by a facile method in high yield. The observed longitudinal and transverse relaxivities r(1) and r(2) for water hydrogens in the presence of the water-soluble gadofullerene 2 Gd(3)N@C(80)(OH)(approximately 26)(CH(2)CH(2)COOM)(approximately 16) (M = Na or H) are 207 and 282 mM(-1) s(-1) (per C(80) cage) at 2.4 T, respectively; these values are 50 times larger than those of Gd(3+) poly(aminocarboxylate) complexes, such as commercial Omniscan and Magnevist. This high (1)H relaxivity for this new hydroxylated and carboxylated gadofullerene derivative provides high signal enhancement at significantly lower Gd concentration as demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo MRI studies. Dynamic light scattering data reveal a unimodal size distribution with an average hydrodynamic radius of ca. 78 nm in pure water (pH = 7), which is significantly different from other hydroxylated or carboxylated fullerene and metallofullerene derivatives reported to date. Agarose gel infusion results indicate that the gadofullerene 2 displayed diffusion properties different from those of commercial Omniscan and those of PEG5000 modified Gd(3)N@C(80). The reactive carboxyl functionality present on this highly efficient contrast agent may also serve as a precursor for biomarker tissue-targeting purposes.
Shu
Chunying
C
Chemistry Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA.
Corwin
Frank D
FD
Zhang
Jianfei
J
Chen
Zhijian
Z
Reid
Jonathan E
JE
Sun
Minghao
M
Xu
Wei
W
Sim
Jae Hyun
JH
Wang
Chunru
C
Fatouros
Panos P
PP
Esker
Alan R
AR
Gibson
Harry W
HW
Dorn
Harry C
HC
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004058:Diffusion; D005260:Female; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010545:Peroxides / Q000737:chemistry; D011522:Protons; D051381:Rats; D012995:Solubility; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D003287:Contrast Media; D037741:Fullerenes; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010545:Peroxides; D011522:Protons; D014867:Water; D005682:Gadolinium