A new approach in the preparation of dendrimer-based bifunctional diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid MR contrast agent derivatives.
In this paper, we report a new method to prepare and characterize a contrast agent based on a fourth-generation (G4) polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer conjugated to the gadolinium complex of the bifunctional diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid derivative (1B4M-DTPA). The method involves preforming the metal-ligand chelate in alcohol prior to conjugation to the dendrimer. The dendrimer-based agent was purified by a Sephadex G-25 column and characterized by elemental analysis. The analysis and SE-HPLC data gave a chelate to dendrimer ratio of 30:1 suggesting conjugation at approximately every other amine terminal on the dendrimer. Molar relaxivity of the agent measured at pH 7.4 displayed a higher value than that of the analogous G4 dendrimer based agent prepared by the postmetal incorporation method (r(1) = 26.9 vs 13.9 mM(-1) s(-1) at 3 T and 22 degrees C). This is hypothesized to be due to the higher hydrophobicity of this conjugate and the lack of available charged carboxylate groups from noncomplexed free ligands that might coordinate to the metal and thus also reduce water exchange sites. Additionally, the distribution populations of compounds that result from the postmetal incorporation route are eliminated from the current product simplifying characterization as quality control issues pertaining to the production of such agents for clinical use as MR contrast agents. In vivo imaging in mice showed a reasonably fast clearance (t(1/2) = 24 min) suggesting a viable agent for use in clinical application.
Nwe
Kido
K
Radioimmune and Inorganic Chemistry Section, Radiation Oncology Branch, and Molecular Imaging Program, National Cancer Institute, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Xu
Heng
H
Regino
Celeste Aida S
CA
Bernardo
Marcelino
M
Ileva
Lilia
L
Riffle
Lisa
L
Wong
Karen J
KJ
Brechbiel
Martin W
MW
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D050091:Dendrimers; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D051379:Mice; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011073:Polyamines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
D003287:Contrast Media; D050091:Dendrimers; C104700:PAMAM Starburst; D011073:Polyamines; C077295:2-(4-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-6-methyldiethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium