Gadolinium(III) 1,2-hydroxypyridonate-based complexes: toward MRI contrast agents of high relaxivity

Prospective gadolinium(III) MRI contrast agent precursors [Gd-TREN-1,2-HOPO] (1) [TREN-1,2-HOPO = tris[(1-hydroxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-6-carboxamido)ethyl]amine] and [Gd-TREN-bis(Me-3,2-HOPO)-1,2-HOPO] (2) have been synthesized and characterized by relaxometric measurements. The water proton relaxivity values of 1 and 2 (20 MHz and 25 degrees C) are 9.5 and 9.3 mM(-)(1)s(-)(1), respectively, suggesting the presence of two coordinated water molecules. The molecular structure of [1.DMF](2) was obtained and reveals a similar eight-coordinate geometry to [Gd-TREN-Me-3,2-HOPO.2H(2)O] ([3.2H(2)O]). A shape analysis of the coordination polyhedron of 1 reveals that this geometry is best described as a bicapped trigonal prism, poised to accommodate an additional donor atom to give a tricapped trigonal prismatic intermediate. This geometry supports the model that formation of a tris-aquo intermediate for 1 enables fast and associative water exchange.     

Gadolinium(III)-loaded nanoparticulate zeolites as potential high-field MRI contrast agents: relationship between structure and relaxivity

The effects of dealumination, pore size, and calcination on the efficiency (as expressed in the relaxivity) of Gd3+-loaded zeolites for potential application as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents were studied. Partial dealumination of zeolites NaY or NaA by treatment with (NH4)2SiF6 or diluted HCl resulted in materials that, upon loading with Gd3+, had a much higher relaxivity than the corresponding non-dealuminated materials. Analysis of the 1H NMR dispersion profiles of the various zeolites showed that this can be mainly ascribed to an increase of the amount of water inside the zeolite cavities as a result of the destruction of walls between cavities. However, the average residence time of water inside the Gd3+-loaded cavities did not change significantly, which suggests that the windows of the Gd3+-loaded cavities are not affected by the dealumination. Upon calcination, the Gd3+ ions moved to the small sodalite cavities and became less accessible for water, resulting in a decrease in relaxivity. The important role of diffusion for the relaxivity was demonstrated by a comparison of the relaxivity of Gd3+-loaded zeolite NaY and NaA samples. NaA had much lower relaxivities due to the smaller pore sizes. The transversal relaxivities of the Gd3+-doped zeolites are comparable in magnitude to the longitudinal ones at low magnetic fields (<60 MHz). However at higher fields, the transversal relaxivities steeply increased, whereas the longitudinal relaxivities decreased as field strength increased. Therefore, these materials have potential as T1 MRI contrast agents at low field, and as T2 agents at higher fields.     

Gadolinium(III) complexes of mono- and diethyl esters of monophosphonic acid analogue of DOTA as potential MRI contrast agents: solution structures and relaxometric studies

Two new macrocyclic DOTA-like chelates containing one phosphonate pendant arm were synthesised as potential contrast agents for MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). The chelates bind to the lanthanide(III) in an octadentate manner, via four nitrogen atoms, three carboxylate and one phosphonate oxygen atoms. Solution structures of [Ln(do3ap(OEt2))(H(2)O)] and [Ln(do3ap(OEt))(H(2)O)](-) were studied using (31)P and (1)H NMR spectroscopy and SAP (square-antiprismatic)/TSAP (twisted square-antiprismatic) isomerism was observed. Depending on the nature of the lanthanide(III) ion, the lanthanide(III) complexes of H(4)do3ap(OEt) are present in solution as up to four different diastereoisomers observable with NMR. The TSAP isomer is the most abundant at the beginning of the lanthanide series and, with a decrease of the ionic radius of lanthanide(III) ions, both TSAP and SAP forms were observed. A second interconversion (SAP<-->TSAP') becomes important at the end of the series (TSAP' means the TSAP species without a coordinated water molecule). The remaining axial coordination site is occupied by one water molecule for the Gd(3+)-complex. The calculated fraction of the TSAP isomer in the gadolinium(III) complexes increases in the order [Gd(DOTA)(H(2)O)](-) < [Gd(do3ap(OEt2))(H(2)O)] < [Gd(do3ap(OEt))(H(2)O)](-) < [Gd(do3ap)(H(2)O)](2-). Gadolinium(III) complexes of phosphorus-containing chelates, generally, have the advantage of a relatively fast water exchange rate due to a greater sterical demand of the phosphorus acid moiety and of the presence of the second-sphere water shell, which also contributes to the overall relaxivity. The [Gd(do3ap(OEt2))(H(2)O)] and [Gd(do3ap(OEt))(H(2)O)](-) complexes were studied by variable-temperature (17)O NMR and (1)H NMRD. The experimental data were evaluated simultaneously with commonly used equations based on Solomon-Bloembergen-Morgan approximation, extended by a contribution of the second coordination sphere. The water exchange rates were found to be strongly dependent on the TSAP/SAP isomeric ratio and the overall charge of the complex: the monoanionic [Gd(do3ap(OEt))(H(2)O)](-) complex with TSAP molar fraction equal to 0.36 has the water exchange rate of 20 x 10(6) s(-1) (tau(M) = 50 ns) while neutral [Gd(do3ap(OEt2))(H(2)O)] complex with TSAP molar fraction 0.28 has an exchange rate equal to 4.4 x 10(6) s(-1) (tau(M) = 227 ns).     

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.     

钆类造影剂的研究进展

从钆螯合物造影剂的原理、条件、研究进展、以及提高其弛豫效率的方法4个方面进行介绍与总结;在研究进展方面,着重介绍了荧光、生物敏感造影剂;并且从酶活性、金属离子活性、pH活性3个方面对生物敏感造影剂进行了论述。     

Stability of iron(III) complexes used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging

Conditional constants at pH 7.4 are calculated for the iron(III) complexes of diethylenetrinitrilopentaacetic acid, trans-1,2-cyclohexylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid, triethylenetetranitrilohexaacetic acid and ethylenediiminobis[(2-hydroxypentyl) acetic acid]. The relationship between these constants and the stability which has previously been observed experimentally is discussed with regard to the possible formation of iron hydroxide and iron phosphate.     

Towards the rational design of MRI contrast agents: electron spin relaxation is largely unaffected by the coordination geometry of gadolinium(III)-DOTA-type complexes

Electron-spin relaxation is one of the determining factors in the efficacy of MRI contrast agents. Of all the parameters involved in determining relaxivity it remains the least well understood, particularly as it relates to the structure of the complex. One of the reasons for the poor understanding of electron-spin relaxation is that it is closely related to the ligand-field parameters of the Gd(3+) ion that forms the basis of MRI contrast agents and these complexes generally exhibit a structural isomerism that inherently complicates the study of electron spin relaxation. We have recently shown that two DOTA-type ligands could be synthesised that, when coordinated to Gd(3+), would adopt well defined coordination geometries and are not subject to the problems of intramolecular motion of other complexes. The EPR properties of these two chelates were studied and the results examined with theory to probe their electron-spin relaxation properties.     

Towards the rational design of platinum(II) and gold(III) complexes as antitumour agents

Metal complexes afford an opportunity for the discovery of new antitumour drugs with truly novel mechanisms of action. Various tactics and some new concepts have been employed to improve the physico-chemical and biological properties of metal complexes. Recent advances in this area demonstrate a bright prospect for the utilization of metal complexes in cancer chemotherapy. The theme of this article focuses on the approaches towards the rational design of platinum(II) and gold(III) complexes with antitumour properties based on the updated understanding of the mechanism of action of these compounds. The complexes summarized in this work include monofunctional platinum(II) complexes, multinuclear platinum(II) complexes, hybrid and targeted platinum(II) complexes, and gold(III) complexes. Most of them violate the established structure-activity relationships and demonstrate different reactivities from cisplatin and thereby show some potential for the prevention of detoxification.     

The gadolinium(III)-water hydrogen distance in MRI contrast agents

The ion-nuclear distance of Gd(III) to a coordinated water proton, r(Gd)(-)(H), is central to the understanding of the efficacy of gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents. The dipolar relaxation mechanism operative for contrast agents has a 1/r(6) dependence. Estimates in the literature for this distance span 0.8 A (2.5-3.3 A). This study describes a direct determination of r(Gd)(-)(H) using the anisotropic hyperfine constant T( perpendicular ) determined from pulsed ENDOR spectra. Five Gd(III) complexes were examined: [Gd(H(2)O)(8)](3+), [Gd(DTPA)(H(2)O)](2)(-), [Gd(BOPTA)(H(2)O)](2)(-), MS-325, and [Gd(HP-DO3A)(H(2)O)]. The distance, r(Gd)(-)(H), was the same within error for all five complexes: 3.1 +/- 0.1 A. These distance estimates should aid in the design of new contrast agents, and in the interpretation of other molecular factors influencing relaxivity.     

Synthesis of a tricyclic tetraazatriacetic ligand for gadolinium(III) as potential contrast agent for MRI

A tricyclic tetraazatriacetic compound, which is a rigidified derivative of PCTA12 ligand with a cyclohexylene bridge replacing an ethylene one, was prepared. Two synthetic routes have been investigated, both of them implying a common functionalized triamine intermediate. Whatever the route, four synthetic steps were necessary to obtain the target tricyclic ligand. The more effective one (Route B) led to the desired compound in 19% overall yield from the triamine intermediate. The corresponding gadolinium complex of 1/1 stoichiometry was then prepared in order to evaluate it as potential contrast agent for MRI.     

New cerium(III) and neodymium(III) complexes as cytotoxic agents

The cerium(III) and neodymium(III) complexes of 5‐aminoorotic acid were synthesized and characterized by means of spectral data (IR, Raman, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR) and elemental analysis. Significant differences in the IR spectra of the complexes were observed as compared with the spectrum of the ligand. A comparative analysis of the Raman spectra of the complexes with that of the free 5‐aminoorotic acid allowed a straightforward assignment of the vibrations of the ligand groups involved in coordination. ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra confirmed the formation of the complexes. The ligand and the complexes were tested for the cytotoxic activities on the chronic myeloid leukemia‐derived K‐562, overexpressing the BCR‐ABL fusion protein, and the non‐Hodgkin lymphoma‐derived DOHH‐2, characterized by a rexpression of the antiapoptotic protein bcl‐2 cell lines. The results obtained indicate that the tested compounds exerted a considerable cytotoxic activity upon the evaluated cell lines in a concentration‐dependent manner, which enabled the construction of dose–response curves and the calculation of the corresponding IC₅₀ values. Cytotoxicity towards tumor cells was determined for a broad concentration range. The inorganic salts exerted a very weak cytotoxic effect on these cells that is in contrast to the lanthanide complexes, which exhibited potent cytotoxic activity towards K‐562 and DOHH‐2 cell lines. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fe(III)-templated Gd(III) self-assemblies-a new route toward macromolecular MRI contrast agents

The self-assembly of supramolcular clusters of Gd(III) hydroxypyridinone complexes, templated by an Fe(III) terephthalamide center, is presented. The peripheral Gd(III) ions are each coordinated by two water molecules which exchange rapidly with the bulk solvent. These properties, along with the high rigidity of the supramolecules, efficiently increase the rotational correlation times of the cluster, resulting in high relaxivities at high magnetic fields and hence making these complexes good candidates for MRI contrast agents.     

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.     

Europium(III) DOTA-tetraamide complexes as redox-active MRI sensors

PARACEST redox sensors containing the NAD(+)/NADH mimic N-methylquinolinium moiety as a redox-active functional group have been designed and synthesized. The Eu(3+) complex with two quinolinium moieties was nearly completely CEST-silent in the oxidized form but was "turned on" upon reduction with β-NADH. The CEST effect of the Eu(3+) complex containing only one quinolinium group was much less redox-responsive but showed an unexpected sensitivity to pH in the physiologically relevant pH range.     

Lanthanide(III) complexes of novel mixed carboxylic-phosphorus acid derivatives of diethylenetriamine: a step towards more efficient MRI contrast agents

Three novel phosphorus-containing analogues of H(5)DTPA (DTPA = diethylenetriaminepentaacetate) were synthesised (H6L1, H5L2, H5L3). These compounds have a -CH2-P(O)(OH)-R function (R = OH, Ph, CH2NBn2) attached to the central nitrogen atom of the diethylenetriamine backbone. An NMR study reveals that these ligands bind to lanthanide(III) ions in an octadentate fashion through the three nitrogen atoms, a P-O oxygen atom and four carboxylate oxygen atoms. The complexed ligand occurs in several enantiomeric forms due to the chirality of the central nitrogen atom and the phosphorus atom upon coordination. All lanthanide complexes studied have one coordinated water molecule. The residence times (tau(M)298) of the coordinated water molecules in the gadolinium(III) complexes of H6L1 and H5L2 are 88 and 92 ns, respectively, which are close to the optimum. This is particularly important upon covalent and noncovalent attachment of these Gd(3+) chelates to polymers. The relaxivity of the complexes studied is further enhanced by the presence of at least two water molecules in the second coordination sphere of the Gd(3+) ion, which are probably bound to the phosphonate/phosphinate moiety by hydrogen bonds. The complex [Gd(L3)(H2O)](2-) shows strong binding ability to HSA, and the adduct has a relaxivity comparable to MS-325 (40 s(-1) mM(-1) at 40 MHz, 37 degrees C) even though it has a less favourable tau(M) value (685 ns). Transmetallation experiments with Zn(2+) indicate that the complexes have a kinetic stability that is comparable to-or better than-those of [Gd(dtpa)(H2O)](2-) and [Gd(dtpa-bma)(H2O)].     

Hydroxide complexes of lanthanides-III Gadolinium(III) in perchlorate medium

From the precipitation borderline in the pM′—pH diagram, determined experimentally under CO₂-free conditions, the stability constants of the mononuclear and polynuclear species of gadolinium hydroxide have been established. The values found are log*β₁ = −7.3, log*β₂ = −14.6, log*β₃ = −21.9, log*β_4,3 = −19.0 and log *K_s0 = 17.0. They refer to fresh precipitates, prepared at room temperature in sodium perchlorate medium with an ionic strength of 1.     

Toward optimized high-relaxivity MRI agents: the effect of ligand basicity on the thermodynamic stability of hexadentate hydroxypyridonate/catecholate gadolinium(III) complexes

The thermodynamic stabilities of the Gd(III) complexes of five hexadentate ligands, which incorporate the 2,3-dihydroxyterephthalamide and 2,3-hydroxypyridonate chelating moieties, have been determined by potentiometric and spectrophotometric titration. The ligands were chosen to span a range of basicities while maintaining a similar tripodal structural motif, facilitating a study of the effect of ligand basicity on the thermodynamic stability of the Gd(III) complexes. The relative stability of the five complexes is found to be highly pH dependent, with the most acidic ligands forming the most stable complexes at low pH and more basic ligands forming more stable complexes at high pH. The most stable Gd(III) complex at a physiological pH of 7.4 is formed with a ligand of intermediate basicity and is of stability comparable to that of Gd(III) complexes that feature eight-coordinate amino-carboxylate ligands and are currently used as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents in diagnostic medicine. A single-crystal X-ray structure of the intermediate compound 3-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester is described: This compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with a = 7.4801(3) A, b = 8.0671(3) A, c = 8.3457(4) A, alpha = 72.242(2) degrees, beta = 80.693(2) degrees, gamma = 69.943(3) degrees, V = 449.60(3) A(3), Z = 2, and R = 0.042.     

Iron(II) PARACEST MRI contrast agents

The first examples of Fe(II) PARACEST magnetic resonance contrast agents are reported (PARACEST = paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer). The iron(II) complexes contain a macrocyclic ligand, either 1,4,7-tris(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (L1) or 1,4,7-tris[(5-amino-6-methyl-2-pyridyl)methyl]-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (L2). The macrocycles bind Fe(II) in aqueous solution with formation constants of log K = 13.5 and 19.2, respectively, and maintain the Fe(II) state in the presence of air. These complexes each contain six exchangeable protons for CEST which are amide protons in [Fe(L1)](2+) or amino protons in [Fe(L2)](2+). The CEST peak for the [Fe(L1)](2+) amide protons is at 69 ppm downfield of the bulk water resonance whereas the CEST peak for the [Fe(L2)](2+) amine protons is at 6 ppm downfield of bulk water. CEST imaging using a MRI scanner shows that the CEST effect can be observed in solutions containing low millimolar concentrations of complex at neutral pH, 100 mM NaCl, 20 mM buffer at 25 °C or 37 °C.