RGD-conjugated triarylmethyl radical as probe for electron paramagnetic imaging

A stable RGD-conjugated triarylmethyl (TAM) radical 3 has been synthesized in a straightforward three-step sequence. CT-03 ‘the Finland trityl’ which is a very popular contrast agent for electron paramagnetic resonance imaging has been covalently bound to the NH₂-ending of a pentapeptide commonly used to target integrins and confers tissue selectivity. Moreover, this new TAM radical is stable and sensitive to molecular oxygen.     

Optimization of magnetic field sweep and field modulation amplitude for continuous-wave EPR oximetry

For continuous-wave electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, what settings of magnetic field sweep width and field modulation amplitude yield the best accuracy in estimated linewidth? Statistical bounds on estimation error presented in this work provide practical guidance: set the sweep width and modulation amplitude to 8 and 4 times the half-width half-maximum linewidth, Γ, respectively. For unknown linewidths in the range [Γ(min),Γ(max)] the worst-case estimation error is minimized by using settings designed for Γ(max). The analysis assumes a Lorentzian lineshape and a constant modulation amplitude across the extent of the irradiated paramagnetic probe. The analytical guidelines are validated using L-band spectroscopy with a particulate LiNc-BuO probe.     

Estimation of mean and median pO2 values for a composite EPR spectrum

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-based oximetry is capable of quantifying oxygen content in samples. However, for a heterogeneous environment with multiple pO2 values, peak-to-peak linewidth of the composite EPR lineshape does not provide a reliable estimate of the overall pO2 in the sample. The estimate, depending on the heterogeneity, can be severely biased towards narrow components. To address this issue, we suggest a postprocessing method to recover the linewidth histogram which can be used in estimating meaningful parameters, such as the mean and median pO2 values. This information, although not as comprehensive as obtained by EPR spectral-spatial imaging, goes beyond what can be generally achieved with conventional EPR spectroscopy. Substantially shorter acquisition times, in comparison to EPR imaging, may prompt its use in clinically relevant models. For validation, simulation and EPR experiment data are presented.     

The aqueous reference for ESR oximetry

The interaction of molecular oxygen with derivatives of nitroxide EPR spin labels has been investigated using nuclear spin-relaxation spectroscopy in aqueous and nonaqueous solvents. The proton spin-lattice relaxation rate induced by oxygen provides a measure of the local concentration of oxygen, which we find is dependent on solvent. In water, the hydrophobic effect increases the local concentration of oxygen in the nonpolar portions of solute molecules. For nitroxides reduced to the hydroxylamine in aqueous solutions, we find that the local concentration of oxygen is approximately twice that associated with a free diffusion hard sphere limit, while in octane, this effect is absent. These results show that nitroxide based ESR oximetry may suffer a reference concentration shift of order a factor of two if the aqueous nitroxide spectrum or relaxation is used as the reference.     

Digital detection and processing of multiple quadrature harmonics for EPR spectroscopy

A quadrature digital receiver and associated signal estimation procedure are reported for L-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The approach provides simultaneous acquisition and joint processing of multiple harmonics in both in-phase and out-of-phase channels. The digital receiver, based on a high-speed dual-channel analog-to-digital converter, allows direct digital down-conversion with heterodyne processing using digital capture of the microwave reference signal. Thus, the receiver avoids noise and nonlinearity associated with analog mixers. Also, the architecture allows for low-Q anti-alias filtering and does not require the sampling frequency to be time-locked to the microwave reference. A noise model applicable for arbitrary contributions of oscillator phase noise is presented, and a corresponding maximum-likelihood estimator of unknown parameters is also reported. The signal processing is applicable for Lorentzian lineshape under nonsaturating conditions. The estimation is carried out using a convergent iterative algorithm capable of jointly processing the in-phase and out-of-phase data in the presence of phase noise and unknown microwave phase. Cramér-Rao bound analysis and simulation results demonstrate a significant reduction in linewidth estimation error using quadrature detection, for both low and high values of phase noise. EPR spectroscopic data are also reported for illustration.     

Pulsed EPR imaging of nitroxides in mice

Nitroxides, unlike trityl radicals, have shorter T₂s which until now were not detectable in vivo by a time-domain pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectrometer at 300 MHz since their phase memory times were shorter than the spectrometer recovery times. In the current version of the time-domain EPR spectrometer with improved spectrometer recovery times, the feasibility of detecting signals from nitroxide radicals was tested. Among the nitroxides evaluated, deuterated ¹⁵N-Tempone (¹⁵N-PDT) was found to have the longest T₂. The signal intensity profile as a function of concentration of these agents was evaluated and a biphasic behavior was observed; beyond a nitroxide concentration of 1.5 mM, signal intensity was found to decrease as a result of self-broadening. Imaging experiments were carried out with ¹⁵N-PDT in solutions equilibrated with 0%, 5%, 10%, and 21% oxygen using the single point imaging (SPI) modality in EPR. The image intensity in these tubes was found to depend on the oxygen concentration which in turn influences the T₂ of ¹⁵N-PDT. In vivo experiments were demonstrated with ¹⁵N-PDT in anesthetized mice where the distribution and metabolism of ¹⁵N-PDT could be monitored. This study, for the first time shows the capability to image a cell-permeable nitroxide in mice using pulsed EPR in the SPI modality.     

基于试验方差分析的血氧测量波长选取的研究

为了提高血氧饱和度光谱测量的精度和可靠性,增强血氧饱和度测量数据的有效性,提出了基于试验方差分析的血氧测量波长选取的方法。通过分析不同波长组合对应的血氧饱和度系数分布情况,合理地利用统计理论,从中选取较好的波长组合。实验中以不同血氧饱和度临床数据为基础,建立了不同波长组合(660和940 nm,660和805 nm,805和940 nm)计算出的血氧饱和度系数的单因素试验方差分析模型,参照分析模型中的F指标和p参数,比较分析不同波长组合的显著性,进而从光谱数据中选取出相对较好的波长组合,为进一步建模分析提供了可靠的中间数据。结果表明,选取660和805 nm的波长组合引入的总误差相对较小,能更显著的代表血氧饱和度的变化,相比其他的波长组合进行分析能够提高血氧测量精度。本研究将试验方差分析方法用于血氧测量中波长组合的优选,效果显著,为血氧饱和度的测量和其他相关光谱的特征波长选取以及定量分析提供了新思路。试验方差分析方法有助于从光谱中提取代表被测量的有效信息。     

Galvinoxyl radicals: Synthesis of new derivatives,determination of low oxygen contents,and stability studies

Two new derivatives of galvinoxyl (1), a perdeutered (2) and an adamantyl-analog (3) for potential applications as spin probes were synthesized. The synthesis with deuterated educts yielded 2 with 98% D. It exhibited an 18-line EPR spectrum in octanol with narrow peak-to-peak linewidth. The EPR spectrum of 3 was very similar to galvinoxyl, but with differences in the linewidth due to unresolved long-range couplings with adamantyl-protons. Compound 2 showed a higher response to oxygen (4.8 μT/% O₂) than 1 (2.8 μT/% O₂). The coupling pattern of 2 allowed the determination of oxygen at low levels (0–6%) by a new type of analysis of the EPR pattern. The stability of the radicals strongly depended on the amount of hydrogalvinoxyl, a by-product of the galvinoxyl synthesis, and the solvent type. A molecular mechanism for the stabilization by hydrogalvinoxyl and the influence of solvent type is proposed.     

Concentration by centrifugation for gas exchange EPR oximetry measurements with loop-gap resonators

Measurement of the bimolecular collision rate between a spin label and oxygen is conveniently carried out using a gas permeable plastic sample tube of small diameter that fits a loop-gap resonator. It is often desirable to concentrate the sample by centrifugation in order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), but the deformable nature of small plastic sample tubes presents technical problems. Solutions to these problems are described. Two geometries were considered: (i) a methylpentene polymer, TPX, from Mitsui Chemicals, at X-band and (ii) Teflon tubing with 0.075 mm wall thickness at Q-band. Sample holders were fabricated from Delrin that fit the Eppendorf microcentrifuge tubes and support the sample capillaries. For TPX, pressure of the sealant at the end of the sample tube against the Delrin sample holder provided an adequate seal. For Teflon, the holder permitted introduction of water around the tube in order to equalize pressures across the sealant during centrifugation. Typically, the SNR was improved by a factor of five to eight. Oxygen accessibility applications in site-directed spin labeling studies are discussed.     

Interaction between Molecular Oxygen and Nitroxide Radicals: A Search for a Reversible Complex

At high concentrations of oxygen, the EPR spectrum of the nitroxide radical 4‐oxo‐TEMPO (= 4‐oxo‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yloxy) is found to broaden significantly. In addition to the expected broadening, double integration of the EPR signals indicates that a significant fraction of the nitroxide spins has ‘disappeared’. In perfluoro(2‐butyltetrahydrofuran) at 273 K, the extent of diminution of the EPR signal intensity is ca. 20%. The results are analyzed in terms of collision and supramolecular complexes between oxygen and 4‐oxo‐TEMPO. It is concluded that a supramolecular complex is responsible for the observed phenomenon.