Synthesis of a bioactivated and cell permeable MR contrast agent

INOR 133

Ying Song, yingsong@northwestern.edu and Thomas J. Meade, tmeade@northwestern.edu. Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-3113
Responsive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents provide opportunities to study biochemical or physiological processes in vivo. Calcium is an important secondary messenger in all eukaryotic cells with intracellular concentrations in the micromolar range. We have previously reported a calcium-sensitive MRI contrast agent based on a novel design incorporating a calcium binding domain coupled to a Gd(III) chelate. Here we report an improvement on this design to produce a Ca(II) MR probe for in vivo use. A membrane permeable functional group has been attached to the Ca(II) probe as a transduction domain that will facilitate crossing cell membranes and the blood brain barrier. This contrast agent will be used to follow changes in intracellular of calcium in vivo and the synthesis and physical properties of the agent will be described.
 

Bioinorganic Chemistry
7:00 PM-10:00 PM, Sunday, 10 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Poster

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Sci-Mix

Division of Inorganic Chemistry

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006