title: Multivalent, high-relaxivity MRI contrast agents using rigid cysteine-reactive gadolinium complexes.
abstract: MRI contrast agents providing very high relaxivity values can be obtained through the attachment of multiple gadolinium(III) complexes to the interior surfaces of genome-free viral capsids. In previous studies, the contrast enhancement was predicted to depend on the rigidity of the linker attaching the MRI agents to the protein surface. To test this hypothesis, a new set of Gd-hydroxypyridonate based MRI agents was prepared and attached to genetically introduced cysteine residues through flexible and rigid linkers. Greater contrast enhancements were seen for MRI agents that were attached via rigid linkers, validating the design concept and outlining a path for future improvements of nanoscale MRI contrast agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-1460, USA.
authors.forename: Praveena D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Garimella
authors.forename: Ankona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.forename: Dante W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Romanini
authors.forename: Kenneth N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Francis
mesh_terms: D002213:Capsid / Q000737:chemistry; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000737:chemistry*; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C500102:gadolinium(III) 1,2-hydroxypyridonate; D005682:Gadolinium; D003545:Cysteine