Light-based microscope imaging techniques using fluorescence sensor molecules suffer from photobleaching and light scattering, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide three-dimensional imaging without these problems. Recently, “smart” MRI contrast agents which modulate the access of water to a chelated gadolinium (Gd3+) ion in the presence or absence of a specific trigger have been reported. Zinc (Zn2+) is an essential component of many enzymes, transcription factors and synaptic vesicles in excitatory nerve terminals, so imaging of chelatable Zn2+ is of interest. We have designed and synthesized the Gd3+ DTPA bisamide complex 7a as a Zn2+-sensitive MRI contrast agent. Compound 7a shows a dose-dependent change in the R1 relaxivity in the presence of Zn2+.
We investigated this relaxation behavior, and for this purpose we also synthesized the Gd3+ DTPA amide ethyl ester complex 7b. It was shown that binding between 7a and Zn2+ caused a change in the relaxation time. Moreover, 7a had high selectivity for Zn2+ against Ca2+ and Mg2+. Compound 7a may have practical problems for in vivo usage, since the R1 relaxivity is reduced with increased Zn2+ concentration. However, this report demonstrates new approaches to the design and synthesis of Gd3+ complexes with R1 values that change with variation in Zn2+ concentration.
基于光的显微镜成像技术使用荧光传感分子,但会受到光漂白和光散射的影响,而磁共振成像(MRI)则可以提供三维成像而没有这些问题。最近,报道了一种“智能”MRI对比剂,其能够在特定触发的存在或不存在下调节
水分子对螯合
镧(Gd3+)离子的接近。
锌(Zn2+)是许多酶、转录因子和兴奋性神经末梢突触囊泡的必需成分,因此合成能够螯合Zn2+的成像探针具有重要意义。我们设计并合成了Gd3+
DTPA双酰胺复合物7a,作为Zn2+敏感的MRI对比剂。化合物7a在存在Zn2+的情况下显示出剂量依赖性的R1松弛度变化。
我们研究了这一松弛行为,为此我们还合成了Gd3+
DTPA酰胺乙基酯复合物7b。研究表明,7a与Zn2+之间的结合导致了松弛时间的变化。此外,7a对Zn2+表现出对
钙离子(Ca2+)和
镁离子(Mg2+)的高选择性。化合物7a在体内使用可能存在实际问题,因为R1松弛度会随着Zn2+浓度的增加而降低。然而,本报告展示了设计和合成R1值随Zn2+浓度变化的Gd3+复合物的新方法。