High-Field MRI Contrast Agents and their Synergy with Optical Imaging: the Evolution from Single Molecule Probes towards Nano-architectures

Contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging have historically been based on paramagnetic metal complexes, particularly Gd³⁺ chelates, which tend to lose their contrast enhancement ability with increasing magnetic field strength. Emerging high-field MRI applications require the development of novel contrast agents that exhibit high relaxation enhancement as a function of magnetic field strength. Paramagnetic ions such as Dy³⁺, Tb³⁺ or Ho³⁺ incorporated into supramolecular or inorganic nano-architectures represent promising platforms for the development of high field MRI contrast agents. Furthermore, such platforms allow facile inclusion of multiple imaging modalities, therapeutic loading, and targeting vectors. This Minireview examines the application of contrast agents for high-field MRI, which range from single molecules to nanoparticles. Approaches to create multimodal agents by combining high-field MRI contrast properties with another imaging modality are also discussed.     

自组装多肽探针在磁共振成像中的应用

磁共振成像(MRI)是一种强大的非侵入式生物医学诊断技术. 临床上, MRI需要借助造影剂来提高成像质量, 从而提高诊断的准确性. 由于具有优越的信号放大能力和生物相容性, 自组装多肽探针可负载特定的MRI分子, 通过酶促自组装过程实现肿瘤靶向和特异性富集, 增强肿瘤病灶区MRI信号, 从而进一步提高MRI的准确性和灵敏度. 本综述总结了近年来多肽自组装探针在不同MRI模式( ¹H MRI, ¹⁹F MRI和双自旋核MRI)下的最新进展, 并展望了这类新型探针在MRI领域的应用前景.     

Towards Enhanced MRI Performance of Tumor-Specific Dimeric Phenylboronic Contrast Agents

It is known that phenylboronic acid (PBA) can target tumor tissues by binding to sialic acid, a substrate overexpressed by cancer cells. This capability has previously been explored in the design of targeting diagnostic probes such as Gd- and ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-EN-PBA, two contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), respectively, whose potential has already been demonstrated through in vivo experiments. In addition to its high resolution, the intrinsic low sensitivity of MRI stimulates the search for more effective contrast agents, which, in the case of small-molecular probes, basically narrows down to either increased tumbling time of the entire molecule or elevated local concentration of the paramagnetic ions, both strategies resulting in enhanced relaxivity, and consequently, a higher MRI contrast. The latter strategy can be achieved by the design of multimeric Gd^III complexes. Based on the monomeric PBA-containing probes described recently, herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of the dimeric analogues (Gd^III-DOTA-EN)₂-PBA and (Gd^III-DOTA-EN)₂F₂PBA. The presence of two Gd ions in one molecule clearly contributes to the improved biological performance, as demonstrated by the relaxometric study and cell-binding investigations.     

Synthesis, binding affinity, and relaxivity of target-specific MRI contrast agents

Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most important imaging modalities of the central nervous system (CNS), one of the main drawbacks of MRI is its limited specificity. This can potentially be partially alleviated by target-specific contrast agents. In the present paper we describe a simple high yield synthesis of two such gadolinium-based spiperone targeted MRI contrast agents, 1a and 1b. The R₁ relaxivities of 1a and 1b were evaluated and found to be 5.94 and 8.31 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively at 9.4T, while their R₂ relaxivities at the same magnetic field were found to be 18.05 and 22.60 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. In addition and very importantly compound 1a, which is a gadolinium-based, spiperone-targeted MRI contrast agent, was found to preserve some of the spiperone affinity toward the dopamine D2 receptor. Compounds 1a and 1b thus represent potential agents for in vitro dopamine receptor imaging using MRI in experimental models. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

High-Field Detection of Biomarkers with Fast Field-Cycling MRI: The Example of Zinc Sensing

Many smart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes provide response to a biomarker based on modulation of their rotational correlation time. The magnitude of such MRI signal changes is highly dependent on the magnetic field and the response decreases dramatically at high fields (>2 T). To overcome the loss of efficiency of responsive probes at high field, with fast-field cycling magnetic resonance imaging (FFC-MRI) we exploit field-dependent information rather than the absolute difference in the relaxation rate measured in the absence and in the presence of the biomarker at a given imaging field. We report here the application of fast field-cycling techniques combined with the use of a molecular probe for the detection of Zn²⁺ to achieve 166 % MRI signal enhancement at 3 T, whereas the same agent provides no detectable response using conventional MRI. This approach can be generalized to any biomarker provided the detection is based on variation of the rotational motion of the probe.     

Development of responsive lanthanide-based magnetic resonance imaging and luminescent probes for biological applications

Lanthanide complexes have unique chemical characteristics compared with typical organic complexes, and have recently attracted much interest because of the expanding need for new bioanalytical sensors. For example, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) permits noninvasive three-dimensional imaging inside opaque organisms, and gadolinium ion (Gd(3+)) complexes have become important tools as MRI contrast agents. However, most of them are nonspecific, and report solely on anatomy. Therefore, responsive MRI contrast agents, so-called "smart" MRI contrast agents whose ability to relax water protons is greatly enhanced by recognition of a particular biomolecule, have great potential for elucidating biological phenomena. On the other hand, lanthanide complexes such as europium (Eu(3+)) and terbium (Tb(3+)) complexes have excellent luminescence properties for biological applications, i.e., long luminescence lifetime of the order of milliseconds and a large Stoke's shift of >200 nm. Their long-lived luminescence is especially suitable for time-resolved measurements, because the interference from short-lived background fluorescence and scattered light rapidly decays to a negligible level after a pulse of excitation light is applied, and the emitted light can be collected after an appropriate delay time. These luminescent lanthanide complexes have already found commercial use as highly sensitive luminescent probes in heterogeneous and homogeneous assays. This paper reviews our research on the design and synthesis of responsive lanthanide-based MRI and luminescent probes for advanced bioimaging.     

Specific Detection and Imaging of Enzyme Activity by Signal‐Amplifiable Self‐Assembling 19F MRI Probes

Specific turn‐on detection of enzyme activities is of fundamental importance in drug discovery research, as well as medical diagnostics. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most powerful techniques for noninvasive visualization of enzyme activity, both in vivo and ex vivo, promising strategies for imaging specific enzymes with high contrast have been very limited to date. We report herein a novel signal‐amplifiable self‐assembling ¹⁹F NMR/MRI probe for turn‐on detection and imaging of specific enzymatic activity. In NMR spectroscopy, these designed probes are “silent” when aggregated, but exhibit a disassembly driven turn‐on signal change upon cleavage of the substrate part by the catalytic enzyme. Using these ¹⁹F probes, nanomolar levels of two different target enzymes, nitroreductase (NTR) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), could be detected and visualized by ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy and MRI. Furthermore, we have succeeded in imaging the activity of endogenously secreted MMP in cultured media of tumor cells by ¹⁹F MRI, depending on the cell lines and the cellular conditions. These results clearly demonstrate that our turn‐on ¹⁹F probes may serve as a screening platform for the activity of MMPs.     

Lanthanide(III) chelates as MRI contrast agents: A brief description

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a prominent imaging technique in medicine. Gadoliniumbased contrast agents are extensively used to enhance the contrast between normal and diseased tissues through MRI scans. The article illustrates the paramount significance of such contrast agents in MRI applications. Clinically approved contrast agents as well as those in trial period are discussed. Important parameters, i.e. hydration number, rotational correlation time, and mean residence lifetime, influencing the relaxivity (sensitivity) of such agents are described in detail. Various approaches towards relaxivity enhancement are discussed with appropriate examples from the recent literature. A decrease in the Gdwater proton distance results in significant relaxivity enhancement. A comprehensive classification and explanation of Gd³⁺-based contrast agents are presented. Each class is explained with suitable examples. The stability of contrast agents is dependent on their chemical structure. Future contrast agents need to be tissue specific of high relaxivity, low toxicity, and lower administered dose for in vivo use.     

Polymeric 1H MRI Probes for Visualizing Tumor In Vivo

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a prominent non– or low–invasive imaging technique, providing high–resolution, three–dimensional images as well as physiological information about tissues. Low–molecular–weight Gd–MRI contrast agents (CAs), such as Gd–DTPA (DTPA: diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid), are commonly used in the clinical diagnosis, while macromolecular Gd–MRI CAs have several advantages over low–molecular–weight Gd–MRI CAs, which help minimize the dose of CAs and the risk of side effects. Accordingly, we developed chiral dendrimer Gd–MRI CAs, which showed high r₁ values. The association constant values (K_a) of S–isomeric dendrimer CAs to bovine serum albumin (BSA) were higher than those of R–isomeric dendrimer CAs. Besides, based on a totally new concept, we developed ¹³C/¹⁵N–enriched multiple–resonance NMR/MRI probes, which realized highly selective observation of the probes and analysis of metabolic reactions of interest. This account summarizes our recent study on developing both chiral dendrimer Gd–MRI CAs, and self–traceable ¹³C/¹⁵N–enriched phosphorylcholine polymer probes for early detection of tumors.     

State-of-the-art accounts of hyperpolarized 15N-labeled molecular imaging probes for magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging

Hyperpolarized isotope-labeled agents have significantly advanced nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging (MRS/MRI) of physicochemical activities at molecular levels. An emerging advance in this area is exciting developments of ¹⁵N-labeled hyperpolarized MR agents to enable acquisition of highly valuable information that was previously inaccessible and expand the applications of MRS/MRI beyond commonly studied ¹³C nuclei. This review will present recent developments of these hyperpolarized ¹⁵N-labeled molecular imaging probes, ranging from endogenous and drug molecules, and chemical sensors, to various ¹⁵N-tagged biomolecules. Through these examples, this review will provide insights into the target selection and probe design rationale and inherent challenges of HP imaging in hopes of facilitating future developments of ¹⁵N-based biomedical imaging agents and their applications.

This review presents a current account of hyperpolarized ¹⁵N-labeled molecular imaging probes, as well as insights on their advantages and challenges to advance future development of ¹⁵N-based probes and their applications in MRS/MRI.     

NMR Relaxivities of Paramagnetic Lanthanide-Containing Polyoxometalates

The current trend for ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies opens up new routes in clinical diagnostic imaging as well as in material imaging applications. MRI selectivity is further improved by using contrast agents (CAs), which enhance the image contrast and improve specificity by the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE) mechanism. Generally, the efficacy of a CA at a given magnetic field is measured by its longitudinal and transverse relaxivities r₁ and r₂, i.e., the longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates T₁⁻¹ and T₂⁻¹ normalized to CA concentration. However, even though basic NMR sensitivity and resolution become better in stronger fields, r₁ of classic CA generally decreases, which often causes a reduction of the image contrast. In this regard, there is a growing interest in the development of new contrast agents that would be suitable to work at higher magnetic fields. One of the strategies to increase imaging contrast at high magnetic field is to inspect other paramagnetic ions than the commonly used Gd(III)-based CAs. For lanthanides, the magnetic moment can be higher than that of the isotropic Gd(III) ion. In addition, the symmetry of electronic ground state influences the PRE properties of a compound apart from diverse correlation times. In this work, PRE of water ¹H has been investigated over a wide range of magnetic fields for aqueous solutions of the lanthanide containing polyoxometalates [Dy^III(H₂O)₄GeW₁₁O₃₉]^5– (Dy-W₁₁), [Er^III(H₂O)₃GeW₁₁O₃₉]^5– (Er-W₁₁) and [{Er^III(H₂O)(CH₃COO)(P₂W₁₇O₆₁)}₂]¹⁶⁻ (Er₂-W₃₄) over a wide range of frequencies from 20 MHz to 1.4 GHz. Their relaxivities r₁ and r₂ increase with increasing applied fields. These results indicate that the three chosen POM systems are potential candidates for contrast agents, especially at high magnetic fields.     

MAGfect: a novel liposome formulation for MRI labelling and visualization of cells

Cellular entry of imaging probes, such as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is a key requirement for many molecular imaging studies, particularly imaging intracellular events and cell tracking. Here, we describe the successful development and in vitro analysis of MAGfect, a novel liposome formulation containing a lipidic gadolinium contrast agent for MRI, Gd-DOTA-Chol , designed to enter and label cells. Liposome formulation and cell incubation time were optimised for maximum cellular uptake of the imaging probe in a variety of cell lines. MRI analysis of cells incubated with MAGfect showed them to be highly MRI active. This formulation was examined further for cytotoxicity, cell viability and mechanism of cell labelling. One of the key advantages of using MAGfect as a labelling vehicle arises from its potential for additional functions, such as concomitant drug or gene delivery and fluorescent labelling. The gadolinium liposome was found to be an effective vehicle for transport of plasmid DNA (pDNA) into cells and expression levels were comparable to the commercial transfection agent Trojene.     

Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Europium(III) DO3A as a Bimodal Imaging Probe

A new prototype consisting of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles decorated with europium(III) ions encapsulated in a DO3A organic scaffold was designed as a platform for further development of bimodal contrast agents for MRI and optical imaging. The USPIO nanoparticles act as negative MRI contrast agents, whereas the europium(III) ion is a luminophore that is suitable for use in optical imaging detection. The functionalized USPIO nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, DLS, XRD, FTIR, and TXRF analysis, and a full investigation of the relaxometric and optical properties was conducted. The typical luminescence emission of europium(III) was observed and the main red emission wavelength was found at 614 nm. The relaxometric study of these ultrasmall nanoparticles showed r₂ values of 114.8 mm ^?1_Fes^?1 at 60 MHz, which is nearly double the r₂ relaxivity of Sinerem^®.     

Rational design of protein-based MRI contrast agents

We describe the rational design of a novel class of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents with engineered proteins (CAi.CD2, i = 1, 2,..., 9) chelated with gadolinium. The design of protein-based contrast agents involves creating high-coordination Gd(3+) binding sites in a stable host protein using amino acid residues and water molecules as metal coordinating ligands. Designed proteins show strong selectivity for Gd(3+) over physiological metal ions such as Ca(2+), Zn(2+), and Mg(2+). These agents exhibit a 20-fold increase in longitudinal and transverse relaxation rate values over the conventional small-molecule contrast agents, e.g., Gd-DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid), used clinically. Furthermore, they exhibit much stronger contrast enhancement and much longer blood retention time than Gd-DTPA in mice. With good biocompatibility and potential functionalities, these protein contrast agents may be used as molecular imaging probes to target disease markers, thereby extending applications of MRI.     

Multifunctional Core–Shell Silica Nanoparticles for Highly Sensitive 19F Magnetic Resonance Imaging

¹⁹F magnetic resonance imaging (¹⁹F MRI) is useful for monitoring particular signals from biological samples, cells, and target tissues, because background signals are missing in animal bodies. Therefore, highly sensitive ¹⁹F MRI contrast agents are in great demand for their practical applications. However, we have faced the following challenges: 1) increasing the number of fluorine atoms decreases the solubility of the molecular probes, and 2) the restriction of the molecular mobility attenuates the ¹⁹F MRI signals. Herein, we developed novel multifunctional core–shell nanoparticles to solve these issues. They are composed of a core micelle filled with liquid perfluorocarbon and a robust silica shell. These core–shell nanoparticles have superior properties such as high sensitivity, modifiability of the surface, biocompatibility, and sufficient in vivo stability. By the adequate surface modifications, gene expression in living cells and tumor tissue in living mice were successfully detected by ¹⁹F MRI.     

Lanthanide-Based Probes for Imaging Detection of Enzyme Activities by NIR Luminescence,T1- and ParaCEST MRI

Applying a single molecular probe to monitor enzymatic activities in multiple, complementary imaging modalities is highly desirable to ascertain detection and to avoid the complexity associated with the use of agents of different chemical entities. We demonstrate here the versatility of lanthanide (Ln³⁺) complexes with respect to their optical and magnetic properties and their potential for enzymatic detection in NIR luminescence, CEST and T1 MR imaging, controlled by the nature of the Ln³⁺ ion, while using a unique chelator. Based on X-ray structural, photophysical, and solution NMR investigations of a family of Ln³⁺ DO3A-pyridine model complexes, we could rationalize the luminescence (Eu³⁺, Yb³⁺), CEST (Yb³⁺) and relaxation (Gd³⁺) properties and their variations between carbamate and amine derivatives. This allowed the design of $$ probes which undergo enzyme-mediated changes detectable in NIR luminescence, CEST and T1-weighted MRI, respectively governed by variations in their absorption energy, in their exchanging proton pool and in their size, thus relaxation efficacy. We demonstrate that these properties can be exploited for the visualization of β-galactosidase activity in phantom samples by different imaging modalities: NIR optical imaging, CEST and T1-weighted MRI.     

Gold Nanorods as Contrast Agents for Biological Imaging: Optical Properties,Surface Conjugation and Photothermal Effects†

Gold nanorods (NRs) have plasmon‐resonant absorption and scattering in the near‐infrared (NIR) region, making them attractive probes for in vitro and in vivo imaging. In the cellular environment, NRs can provide scattering contrast for darkfield microscopy, or emit a strong two‐photon luminescence due to plasmon‐enhanced two‐photon absorption. NRs have also been employed in biomedical imaging modalities such as optical coherence tomography or photoacoustic tomography. Careful control over surface chemistry enhances the capacity of NRs as biological imaging agents by enabling cell‐specific targeting, and by increasing their dispersion stability and circulation lifetimes. NRs can also efficiently convert optical energy into heat, and inflict localized damage to tumor cells. Laser‐induced heating of NRs can disrupt cell membrane integrity and homeostasis, resulting in Ca²⁺ influx and the depolymerization of the intracellular actin network. The combination of plasmon‐resonant optical properties, intense local photothermal effects and robust surface chemistry render gold NRs as promising theragnostic agents.     

Introduction to Infrared and Raman-Based Biomedical Molecular Imaging and Comparison with Other Modalities

Molecular imaging has rapidly developed to answer the need of image contrast in medical diagnostic imaging to go beyond morphological information to include functional differences in imaged tissues at the cellular and molecular levels. Vibrational (infrared (IR) and Raman) imaging has rapidly emerged among the molecular imaging modalities available, due to its label-free combination of high spatial resolution with chemical specificity. This article presents the physical basis of vibrational spectroscopy and imaging, followed by illustration of their preclinical in vitro applications in body fluids and cells, ex vivo tissues and in vivo small animals and ending with a brief discussion of their clinical translation. After comparing the advantages and disadvantages of IR/Raman imaging with the other main modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography/single-photon emission-computed tomography (PET/SPECT), ultrasound (US) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI), the design of multimodal probes combining vibrational imaging with other modalities is discussed, illustrated by some preclinical proof-of-concept examples.     

A Hyperpolarizable 1H Magnetic Resonance Probe for Signal Detection 15 Minutes after Spin Polarization Storage

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are two extremely important techniques with applications ranging from molecular structure determination to human imaging. However, in many cases the applicability of NMR and MRI are limited by inherently poor sensitivity and insufficient nuclear spin lifetime. Here we demonstrate a cost‐efficient and fast technique that tackles both issues simultaneously. We use the signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) technique to hyperpolarize the target ¹H nuclei and store this polarization in long‐lived singlet (LLS) form after suitable radiofrequency (rf) pulses. Compared to the normal scenario, we achieve three orders of signal enhancement and one order of lifetime extension, leading to ¹H NMR signal detection 15 minutes after the creation of the detected states. The creation of such hyperpolarized long‐lived polarization reflects an important step forward in the pipeline to see such agents used as clinical probes of disease.