Nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion profiles of aqueous solutions of a series of Gd(NOTA) analogs

Exploring the Unique Contrast Properties of Aptamer-Gadolinium Conjugates in Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Targeted Imaging of Thrombi

Objective: An important clinical question in the determination of the extent of thrombosis-related vascular conditions is the identification of blood clot location. Fibrin is a major molecular constituent of blood clots and can, therefore, be utilized in molecular imaging. In this proof-of-concept study, we sought to prepare a fibrin-targeting magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, using a Gd(III)-loaded fibrinogen aptamer (FA) chelate conjugate (Gd(III)-NOTA-FA) (NOTA = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid), to endow the ability to specifically accumulate at the location of blood clots, thereby enhancing contrast capabilities. Methods: The binding affinity of FA for fibrin was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and microscale thermophoresis. The preparation and effective loading of the chelate-aptamer conjugates were confirmed by mass spectrometry and a xylenol orange colorimetric test. Longitudinal and transverse relaxivities and the effects of target binding were assessed using T1- and T2-map sequences at 7 T. T1- and T2-weighted images were acquired after blood clots were treated with Gd(III)-NOTA-FA. Collagen was used as the protein control, while an unrelated aptamer sequence, FB139, was used as the aptamer control. Results: FA demonstrated a high affinity and selectivity toward the polymeric protein, with a K_d of 16.6 nM, confirming an avidity over fibrinogen. The longitudinal (r1) and transverse (r2) relaxivities of Gd(III)-NOTA-FA demonstrated that conjugation to the long aptamer strand shortened T1 relaxation times and increased T2 relaxation times (3.04 and 38.7 mM^-1 s^-1, respectively). These effects were amplified by binding to the fibrin target (1.73 and 46.5 mM^-1 s^-1, respectively). In vitro studies with thrombin-polymerized human blood (clots) in whole blood showed an unexpected enhancement of signal intensity (hyperintense) produced exclusively at the location of the clot during the T2-weighted scan, while the presence of fibrinogen within a whole blood pool resulted in T1 signal intensity enhancement throughout the pool. This is advantageous, as simply reversing the type of a scan from a typical T1-weighted to a T2-weighted would allow to selectively highlight the location of blood clots. Conclusions: Gd(III)-NOTA-FA can be used for molecular imaging of thrombi, through fibrin-targeted delivery of contrast to the location of blood clots in T2-weighted scans.

Gd(3+)-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent Responsive to Zn(2+)

We report the heteroditopic ligand H5L, which contains a DO3A unit for Gd(3+) complexation connected to an NO2A moiety through a N-propylacetamide linker. The synthesis of the ligand followed a convergent route that involved the preparation of 1,4-bis(tert-butoxycarbonylmethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane following the orthoamide strategy. The luminescence lifetimes of the Tb((5)D4) excited state measured for the TbL complex point to the absence of coordinated water molecules. Density functional theory calculations and (1)H NMR studies indicate that the EuL complex presents a square antiprismatic coordination in aqueous solution, where eight coordination is provided by the seven donor atoms of the DO3A unit and the amide oxygen atom of the N-propylacetamide linker. Addition of Zn(2+) to aqueous solutions of the TbL complex provokes a decrease of the emission intensity as the emission lifetime becomes shorter, which is a consequence of the coordination of a water molecule to the Tb(3+) ion upon Zn(2+) binding to the NO2A moiety. The relaxivity of the GdL complex recorded at 7 T (25 °C) increases by almost 150% in the presence of 1 equiv of Zn(2+), while Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) induced very small relaxivity changes. In vitro magnetic resonance imaging experiments confirmed the ability of GdL to provide response to the presence of Zn(2+).

Multiple-Frequency EPR Spectra of Two Aqueous Gd3+ Polyamino Polypyridine Carboxylate Complexes: A Study of High Field Effects

In the search for highly efficient magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents, polyamino polypyridine carboxylate complexes of Gd3+ have shown unusual properties with both very rapid and very slow electron spin relaxation in solution observed by electron paramagnetic resonance. Since the relationship between the molecular structure and the electron spin properties remains quite obscure at this point, detailed studies of such complexes may offer useful clues for the design of Gd3+ compounds with tailored electronic features. Furthermore, the availability of very high-frequency EPR spectrometers based on quasi-optical components provides us with an opportunity to test the existing relaxation theories at increasingly high magnetic fields and observation frequencies. We present a detailed EPR study of two gadolinium polyamino polypyridine carboxylate complexes, [Gd(tpaen)]- and [Gd(bpatcn)(H2O)], in liquid aqueous solutions at multiple temperatures and frequencies between 9.5 and 325 GHz. We analyze the results using the model of random zero-field splitting modulations through Brownian rotation and molecular deformations. We consider the effect of concentration on the line width, as well as the possible existence of an additional g-tensor modulation relaxation mechanism and its possible impact on future experiments. We use (17)O NMR to characterize the water exchange rate on [Gd(bpatcn)(H2O)] and find it to be slow (approximately 0.6 x 10(6) s-1).

On the philosophy of optimizing contrast agents. An analysis of 1H NMRD profiles and ESR lineshapes of the Gd(III)complex MS-325+HSA

A generalization of the modified SBM theory is developed in closed analytical form. The theory is applied to describe the paramagnetically enhanced water proton spin-lattice relaxation rates of the aqueous-systems containing a gadolinium(S=7/2) complex(MS-325) in the presence or absence of human serum albumin (HSA). MS-325 binds to HSA: in the absence of the protein the reorientational time, tauR, is short, but when HSA is added tauR becomes much longer. In this way, the effect of reorientational motion, static (Delta s), and transient (Delta t) zero-field splitting (ZFS) interactions on both the water proton relaxivity and the Gd ESR lineshapes are investigated. Two dynamic models of electron spin relaxation are presented, characterized by transient and static ZFS-interactions. X-, Q-, and W-bands ESR spectra of MS-325+HSA are analyzed in order to describe the effect on the electron spin system upon binding to a macromolecule. A computer program based on this theory is developed which calculates solvent water proton T1 NMRD profiles and the corresponding X-, Q-, U-, and W-bands ESR lineshapes.

A novel series of complexones with bis- or biazole structure as mixed ligands of paramagnetic contrast agents for MRI

We describe the syntheses, physicochemical properties and biological evaluation of a novel series of complexones containing bis- or biazoles moieties and two iminodiacetic acid units as novel ligands for paramagnetic lanthanides. The complexones were prepared by reaction of the corresponding 1,1'-bishaloethylbi- or bispyrazoles with methyl iminodiacetate and subsequent NaOH hydrolysis. 1,1'-Bisbromoethyl precursors were obtained by direct alkylation with an excess of 1,2-dibromoethane, or by heating the corresponding alcohol in HCl. Sigmoidal binding isotherms and MO calculations supported as most stable structures in solution, those containing two Gd(III) atoms bound per molecule of complexone with half saturation values S(0.5) (M(-1), 22 degrees C, pH 7.2) in the range 6.5 10(-6)<S(0.5)<36.1 10(-6). Relaxivity properties [r(1), r(2), s(-1) mM(-1) Gd(III)] determined at 1.5 Tesla gave values (12.0<r(1)<17.7, 12.2<r(2)<20), improving significantly the relaxivities of reference compounds such as Gd(III)EDTA (5.2, 5.6) or Gd(III)DTPA (4.30, 4.30). These improvements involve mainly increased hydration and slower rotational motions. In vitro toxicity experiments are reported.

Prediction of q-values and conformations of gadolinium chelates for magnetic resonance imaging

For gadolinium chelates, we determined that there is a linear correlation between calculated solvent-accessible surface area and q-value, the number of rapidly exchanging water molecules directly bound to the gadolinium ion. A calibration curve was developed to predict q-value based on the solvent-accessible surface area of gadolinium. This predictive method was validated with the following gadolinium crystal structures: (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)-gadolinium(III) [Gd(EDTA)] [Templeton, L. K., Templeton, D. H., Zalkin, A., and Ruben, H. W. (1982) Anomalous Scattering by Praseodymium, Samarium, and Gadolinium and Structures of their Thylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) Salts. Acta Crystallogr., Sect. B 38, 2155], (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N' ',N' "-tetraacetic acid)-gadolinium(III) [Gd(DOTA)] [Dubost, J.-P., Leger, J.-M., Langlois, M.-H., Meyer, D., and Schaefer, M. (1991) Structure of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Agent - The Gadolinium-DOTA Complex C(16)H(24)N(4)O(8)NaGd, 5H(2)O. C. R. Acad. Sci., Ser. 2 312, 349], (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid)-gadolinium(III) [Gd(DTPA)] [Stezowski, J. J., and Hoard, J. L. (1984) Heavy Metal Ionophores - Correlations Among Structural Parameters of Complexed Nonpeptide Polyamino Acids. Isr. J. Chem. 24, 323], (diethylenepenta-acetato)-gadolinium(III) [Gd(DTPA-BEA)] [Smith, P. H., Brainard, J. R., Morris, D. E., Jarvinen, G. D., and Ryan, R. R. (1989) Solution and Solid-State Characterization of Europium and Gadolinium Schiff-Base Complexes and Assessment of their Potential as Contrast Agents in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111, 7437], and (1,7,13-triaza-4,10, 16-trioxacyclo-octadecane-N,N',N' '-triacetato)-gadolinium(III) [Gd(TTTA)] [Chen, D., Squattrito, P. J., Martell, A. E., and Clearfield, A. (1990) Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a 9-Coordinate Gadolinium(III) Complex of 1,7,13-Triaza-4,10, 16-Trioxacyclooctadecane-N,N',N' '-Tri-Acetic Acid. Inorg. Chem. 29, 4366]. Predicted q-values were in complete agreement with experimentally determined q-values. A genetic algorithm-based conformational search method was developed to generate valid 3D models for gadolinium chelates. The method was successfully tested on the following gadolinium chelates: Gd(EDTA) (Templeton et al., 1982), Gd(DOTA) (Dubost et al., 1991), Gd(DTPA-BEA) (Smith et al., 1989), Gd(TTTA) (Chen et al., 1990), Gd(triethylene glycol) [Rogers, R. D., Voss, E. J., and Etzenhouser, R. D. (1988) F-Element Crown Ether Complexes. 17. Synthetic and Structural Survey of Lanthanide Chloride Tiethylene Glycol Complexes. Inorg. Chem. 27, 533], and Gd(tetraethylene glycol) [Rogers, R. D., Etzenhouser, R. D., Murdoch, J. S., and Reyes, E. (1991) Macrocycle Complexation Chemistry. 35. Survey of the Complexation of the Open-Chain 15-Crown-5 Analogue tetraethylene Glycol with the Lanthanide Chlorides. Inorg. Chem. 30, 1445].

Relaxation of solvent protons by solute Gd3+-chelates revisited

The magnetic field dependence (NMRD profile) of 1/T1 of solvent protons in an aqueous solution of Gd(DTPA)2- was remeasured at 5, 15, 25, 30, and 35 degrees C. The data were reanalyzed with the usual low-field theory, using recently published values for tauM, the residence lifetime of the single inner-coordinated waters of solute Gd(DTPA)2-. (These tauM values are significantly longer than earlier estimates). Values were obtained for three dynamic parameters: tauR, the rotational relaxation time of solute ions, and tauSo and tauV, the low-field relaxation time of the Gd3+ magnetic moment and the related correlation time. These Gd(DTPA)2- values, together with recent results for tauM for Gd(DTPA-BMA)--a nonionic structural analog of Gd(DTPA)2- with an unusually long tauM--were used to calculate NMRD profiles at 5 and 35 degrees C. These profiles agree very well with new data given here for a solution of Gd(DTPA-BMA). This reaffirms the importance of knowing the temperature-dependent values of tauM a priori in order to obtain unambiguous quantitative theoretical analyses of NMRD profiles of chelates of known structure. Additionally, the theory of inner sphere relaxation is extended to high fields, at which the magnetic energy of a solute moment is greater than its thermal energy.

Low molecular weight lanthanide contrast agents: in vitro studies of mechanisms of action

The MR contrast properties of a series of structurally dissimilar low molecular weight (LMW) gadolinium (Gd) and dysprosium (Dy) chelates have been investigated under controlled experimental conditions in various in vitro test systems. Relaxation analysis (water, pH = 5.8, 37 degrees C, .47 T) demonstrated the high dipolar relaxation efficacy of the tested Gd chelates. The T1 and T2 relaxivities of both metal chelate series decreased with decreasing hydration number, confirming the strong correlation between metal chelate structure and dipolar relaxivity. Susceptibility-induced T2 relaxation, commonly known as the susceptibility effect, is modulated primarily by the magnetic susceptibility and compartmentalization of the contrast agent. The influence of these parameters on the susceptibility effect of Dy diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid bis-methylamide (DTPA-BMA) and GdDTPA-BMA was investigated in two-compartment in vitro models. In red blood cell suspensions (45% hematocrit, 37 degrees C, .47 T, 2 and 3 mM metal ion concentration), the T2 relaxation efficacy of DyDTPA-BMA was markedly improved due to susceptibility effects that were shown to depend on compartmentalization. As the relaxation ability of GdDTPA-BMA was modulated by the dipolar interactions, compartmentalization was not a prerequisite for its T2 relaxation efficacy. In a coaxial glass system with no intercompartmental water exchange, which eliminated the dipolar relaxation mechanism, DyDTPA-BMA was shown to be the most efficient susceptibility agent because of its higher magnetic susceptibility. The reported one- and two-compartment model studies have demonstrated the different mechanism of action of LMW Gd- and Dy-based contrast agents. Gd chelates are predominantly dipolar relaxation enhancers, whereas Dy chelates are efficient susceptibility agents only in compartmentalized systems.

Nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion studies of water-soluble gadolinium(III)-texaphyrin complexes

Water proton 1/T1 nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) profiles were measured for a water-soluble gadolinium(III) texaphyrin (Gd-tex) complex as a function of temperature and in the presence and absence of 5% human serum albumin (HSA). Upon dissolving the complex in water (0.259 mM), the water relaxivity values decreased with time but remained higher than those of free GD3+(aq) at all fields. Concurrent measurements of free Gd3+ using metallochromic dyes indicated that demetallation of the texaphyrin did not occur over a period of several days at 37 degrees C. The high relaxivity values and shape of the NMRD profile of this complex may be ascribed to a combination of large water coordination number (q estimated at 3.5) and long tau R. Upon mixing an aqueous solution of the complex with 5% HSA, the low-field water relaxivity slightly decreased whereas the high-field relaxivity increased relative to the free complex in water, and the relaxivities became nearly independent of temperature. These observations indicate that water exchange between the inner coordination sphere of Gd-tex and bulk water becomes limiting in the presence of HSA.

Preparation, physico-chemical characterization, and relaxometry studies of various gadolinium(III)-DTPA-bis(amide) derivatives as potential magnetic resonance contrast agents

Macroscopic protonation constants were measured for a series of DTPA mono- and bis-amide ligands using potentiometric titrations. Proton NMR pH titrations yielded protonation populations of the various nitrogen and oxygen basic sites of the ligands for the different protonation stages. Amide formation decreased the basicity of the backbone nitrogens of the ligands and the thermodynamic stability of the corresponding Gd3+ chelates. Nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) profiles and ESR linewidths were measured for the Gd3+ chelates. Some of these exhibited an elevated high field relaxivity relative to Gd(DTPA)2-, in response to their high molecular weight. As opposed to Gd(DTPA)2-, at 5 degrees C the chemical exchange process of the single inner-sphere water molecule of the bis-amide complexes becomes so slow that it governs the paramagnetic relaxation process, causing the observed NMRD profiles to be close to those expected for the outer-sphere contribution. The chelates containing long alkyl side chains, such as Gd(DTPA-HPA2), showed increased relaxivity values in the presence of human serum albumin (HSA), indicative of noncovalent interaction with the protein. These chelates could be useful as nonionic hepatobiliary contrast agents.