Polydisulfide Based Biodegradable Macromolecular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents

Macromolecular Gd(III) complexes are advantageous over small molecular Gd(III) complexes in contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because of their prolonged blood circulation and preferential tumor accumulation. However, macromolecular contrast agents have not been approved for clinical applications because of the safety concerns related to their slow body excretion. Polydisulfide Gd(III) complexes have been designed and developed as biodegradable macromolecular MRI contrast agents to alleviate the concerns by facilitating the clearance of Gd(III) complexes from the body. These agents initially behave as macromolecular agents and result in superior contrast enhancement in the vasculature and tumor tissues. They can then be readily degraded in vivo into small molecular chelates that can rapidly excrete from the body via renal filtration after the MRI examinations. Various polydisulfide Gd(III) complexes have been prepared as biodegradable macromolecular MRI contrast agents. These agents have resulted in strong contrast enhancement in the vasculature and tumor tissue in animal models with minimal long-term tissue accumulation comparable to small molecular contrast agents. Polydisulfide Gd(III) complexes are promising for further clinical development as safe and effective biodegradable macromolecular MRI contrast agents for cardiovascular and cancer imaging. The review summarizes the chemistry and properties of polydisulfide Gd(III) complexes.     

Tailoring Encodable Lanthanide‐Binding Tags as MRI Contrast Agents

Lanthanide‐binding tags (LBTs), peptide‐based coexpression tags with high affinity for lanthanide ions, have previously been applied as luminescent probes to provide phasing for structure determination in X‐ray crystallography and to provide restraints for structural refinement and distance information in NMR. The native affinity of LBTs for Gd³⁺ indicates their potential as the basis for engineering of peptide‐based MRI agents. However, the lanthanide coordination state that enhances luminescence and affords tightest binding would not be ideal for applications of LBTs as contrast agents, due to the exclusion of water from the inner coordination sphere. Herein, we use structurally defined LBTs as the starting point for re‐engineering the first coordination shell of the lanthanide ion to provide for high contrast through direct coordination of water to Gd³⁺ (resulting in the single LBT peptide, m‐sLBT). The effectiveness of LBTs as MRI contrast agents was examined in vitro through measurement of binding affinity and proton relaxivity. For imaging applications that require targeted observation, fusion to specific protein partners is desirable. However, a fusion protein comprising a concatenated double LBT (dLBT) as an N‐terminal tag for the model protein ubiquitin had reduced relaxivity compared with the free dLBT peptide. This limitation was overcome by the use of a construct based on the m‐sLBT sequence (q‐dLBT–ubiquitin). The structural basis for the enhanced contrast was examined by comparison of the X‐ray crystal structure of xq‐dLBT–ubiquitin (wherein two tryptophan residues are replaced with serine), to that of dLBT‐ubiquitin. The structure shows that the backbone conformational dynamics of the MRI variant may allow enhanced water exchange. This engineered LBT represents a first step in expanding the current base of specificity‐targeted agents available.     

Synthesis and magnetic relaxation properties of new Gd(III) complexes derived from DTPA-bis(amide) conjugates of arylpiperazinyl amines

Two new Gd(III) complexes 1 and 2 of the type [Gd(L)H₂O]·nH₂O were synthesized from DTPA-bis(amide) conjugates of arylpiperazinyl amines. The relaxivity (R₁) of these complexes was measured in deionized water, which revealed that complex 2 had a higher relaxivity than 1 and Omniscan®, a commercially available MRI contrast agent. The cytotoxicity studies of 1 and 2 indicated that they are non-toxic which warrant their physiological suitability as potential contrast agents for MRI. All the synthesized ligands and complexes were characterized with the aid of analytical and spectroscopic methods including elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, FT-IR, XPS and fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry.     

稀土三元配合物的合成、表征及其抗菌活性研究

以稀土氯化物、联咪唑和噻吩甲酰三氟丙酮为原料制备了一系列新型稀土三元配合物Ln(TTA)3L(Ln=Nd3+,Eu3+,Er3+;TTA=噻吩甲酰三氟丙酮;L=联咪唑),抗菌实验结果显示,三元配合物抑菌圈直径为12～17 mm,对大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌具有一定的抑制作用,且对大肠杆菌的抑制效果较好。     

靶向性磁共振成像造影剂的研究进展

综述了靶向性磁共振成像造影剂的研究进展,着重介绍了近年来在设计与合成具有靶向给药功能造影剂的研究概况,分别列出了亲脂性基团、VB6族化合物及其衍生物、糖类等功能基团作为靶向基团的水溶性顺磁性造影剂的配体结构。     

Bioconjugation of luminescent silicon quantum dots to gadolinium ions for bioimaging applications

Luminescent imaging agents and MRI contrast agents are desirable components in the rational design of multifunctional nanoconstructs for biological imaging applications. Luminescent biocompatible silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) and gadolinium chelates can be applied for fluorescence microscopy and MRI, respectively. Here, we report the first synthesis of a nanocomplex incorporating SiQDs and gadolinium ions (Gd(3+)) for biological applications. The nanoconstruct is composed of a PEGylated micelle, with hydrophobic SiQDs in its core, covalently bound to DOTA-chelated Gd(3+). Dynamic light scattering reveals a radius of 85 nm for these nanoconstructs, which is consistent with the electron microscopy results depicting radii ranging from 25 to 60 nm. Cellular uptake of the probes verified that they maintain their optical properties within the intracellular environment. The magnetic resonance relaxivity of the nanoconstruct was 2.4 mM(-1) s(-1) (in terms of Gd(3+) concentration), calculated to be around 6000 mM(-1) s(-1) per nanoconstruct. These desirable optical and relaxivity properties of the newly developed probe open the door for use of SiQDs in future multimodal applications such as tumour imaging.     

Subject Index to Volume 21

Abstract

Time‐resolved laser‐induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) was employed to determine the inner‐sphere (i.e., first coordination sphere) hydration number (N _H2O) of lanthanide(III) ions (Ln = Sm, Eu, Tb, and Dy) in the TRPO‐dodecane/HNO₃ (or HNO₃–NaNO₃) system under various conditions. In addition, the N _H2O of Ln(III) in extracted complexes with octyl(phenyl)‐N,N‐diisobutylcarbamoylmethyl phosphine oxide (CMPO), dihexyl‐N,N‐diethylcarbamoylmethyl phosphonate (CMP), trioctyl phosphine oxide (TOPO), and tributyl phosphate (TBP) were also determined. The results show that there is no water molecule in the first coordination sphere of Ln(III) complexes, except for Sm(III) and Dy(III) in CMP complexes.     

Ru(III) Complexes with Lonidamine-Modified Ligands

A series of bifunctional Ru(III) complexes with lonidamine-modified ligands (lonidamine is a selective inhibitor of aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells) was described. Redox properties of Ru(III) complexes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry. An easy reduction suggested a perspective for these agents as their whole mechanism of action seems to be based on activation by metal atom reduction. New compounds demonstrated a more pronounced antiproliferative potency than the parental drug; individual new agents were more cytotoxic than cisplatin. Stability studies showed an increase in the stability of complexes along with the linker length. A similar trend was noted for antiproliferative activity, cellular uptake, apoptosis induction, and thioredoxin reductase inhibition. Finally, at concentrations that did not alter water solubility, the selected new complex evoked no acute toxicity in Balb/c mice.     

Gadolinium(III) chelated conjugated polymer as a potential MRI contrast agent

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a powerful technique in clinical diagnostics. In this work, a new MRI contrast agent by covalently linking Gd(III) chelates to the side chain of conjugated polymer (PF-Gd) is synthesized by Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. The PF-Gd exhibits a higher relaxivity and a pronounced enhancement in contrast than that of (NMG)₂-Gd-DTPA widely used for clinical diagnosis. This work should be feasible to potentially lead to a new class of imaging contrast agents.     

Site-specific labelling of proteins with a rigid lanthanide-binding tag

This paper describes a generic method for the site-specific attachment of lanthanide complexes to proteins through a disulfide bond. The method is demonstrated by the attachment of a lanthanide-binding peptide tag to the single cysteine residue present in the N-terminal DNA-binding domain of the Escherichia coli arginine repressor. Complexes with Y(3+), Tb(3+), Dy(3+), Ho(3+), Er(3+), Tm(3+) and Yb(3+) ions were formed and analysed by NMR spectroscopy. Large pseudocontact shifts and residual dipolar couplings were induced by the lanthanide-binding tag in the protein NMR spectrum, a result indicating that the tag was rigidly attached to the protein. The axial components of the magnetic susceptibility anisotropy tensors determined for the different lanthanide ions were similarly but not identically oriented. A single tag with a single protein attachment site can provide different pseudocontact shifts from different magnetic susceptibility tensors and thus provide valuable nondegenerate long-range structure information in the determination of 3D protein structures by NMR spectroscopy.     

Extraction of Lanthanides(III) by a Mixture of a Malonamide and a Dialkyl Phosphoric Acid

Several hydrometallurgical processes studied in France for lanthanide/minor actinide separation use a combination of DMDOHEMA and HDEHP as extractants. Although these processes have proved to be reliable, the modeling of their extraction properties remains a difficult task due to a lack of knowledge about the behavior of the mixed DMDOHEMA-HDEHP organic phase. In the present work, it was found that the solvent extraction of Ln(III) ions by a mixture of these extractants exhibits a complex behavior involving a synergistic effect at either 1 M HNO₃ or high metal concentration, and an antagonistic effect on extraction of metal traces at higher pH (> 2). To understand these effects, Ln(III) complexes formed after extraction by DMDOHEMA and/or HDEHP were characterized by several spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, UV-Vis, ESI-MS, TRLIFS). Results suggested formation of DMDOHEMA-HDEHP adducts and ternary mixed complexes involving both extractants and possibly a nitrate ion.     

Thermophysical property modifications in functional polymers via lanthanide trichloride hydrates

Fourteen water‐soluble trivalent metal chlorides from lanthanum to lutetium in the 1st‐row of the f‐block form complexes with poly(vinylamine) and increase the glass transition temperature from 57°C to well above 100°C at very low molar concentrations of the lanthanide. The large ionic radii of these hard‐acid cations allow several hard‐base amino sidegroups in the polymer to occupy sites in the first shell coordination sphere via ion‐dipole (i.e., electrostatic) interactions, which leads to microclustering of the ligands about a single metal center. The enhancement in the glass transition temperature is explained in terms of multi‐functional coordination crosslinklng. f‐Block salts induce larger increases in T_g, relative to transition metal‐complexes from the d‐block, however CoCl₂(H₂O)₆ performs comparably to some of the more efficient lanthanides. Blends of poly(vinylamine) and trimethoxysilyl‐propylpoly(ethylene imine)hydrochloride form complexes with europium(III) and exhibit synergistic single T_g response. Since lanthanides form very stable complexes with chelating (i.e., bidentate) oxygen ligands, it is possible to increase the elastic modulus of commercially important copolymers of ethylene and methacrylic acid via Eu³⁺ complexation with the carboxylate anion. This claim is verified by infrared spectroscopy. Temperature and pH‐sensitive applications for drug delivery and removal of contaminants from wastewater streams should increase the utility of these lanthanide complexes.     

Thermally Unstable Complexants: Stability of Lanthanide/Actinide Complexes,Thermal Instability of the Ligands,and Applications in Actinide Separations

Abstract

Water soluble complexing agents are commonly used in separations to enhance the selectivity of both ion exchange and solvent extraction processes. Applications of this type in the treatment of nuclear wastes using conventional complexing agents have found mixed success due to the nature of the complexants. In addition, the residual solutions containing these species have led to potentially serious complications in waste storage. To overcome some of the limitations of carboxylic acid and aminopolycarboxylate ligands, we have initiated a program to investigate the complexing ability, thermal/oxidative instability, and separation potential of a group of water soluble organophosphorus compounds which we call Thermally Unstable Complexants, or simply TUCS. Complexants of this type appear to be superior to conventional analogues in a number of respects. In this report, we will summarize our research to date on the actinide/lanthanide complexes with a series of substituted methanediphosphonic acids, the kinetics of their oxidative decomposition, and a few applications which have been developed for their use.     

SYNERGISTIC EXTRACTION OF LANTHANIDES(III) BY TRIOCTYLMETHYLAMMONIUM NITRATE AND TRIBUTYL PHOSPHATE

ABSTRACT

The synergistic action of tributyl phosphate in the extraction of La(III), Pr(III)Nd(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Er(III)and Y(III) with trioc-tylmethylammonium nitrate was studied. The synergistic effect is diluent dependent. It is pronounced with a mixed dodecane/xylene diluent, and is weak with mixed heptane/xylene and hexane/xylene diluents as well as with pure xylene diluent. Two or three synergistic complexes are formed simultaneously in the organic phase. Their composition is (A₊)(Ln(N0₃)) ₄),.2B~), (A₊))(Ln(N0₃))J.3B"), and (A₊)) ₂) (Ln(N0₃)) ₅).BJ-) (Ln is a lanthanide(IM), A+ is a trioc-tylmethylammonium cation and B is a tributyl phosphate molecule). The stability of the synergistic complexes generally decreases with increasing atomic number of the lanthanides(III). The synergism enhaces the efficiency of the lanthanide(III) extraction with trioctylmethylammonium nitrate, but deteriorates its selectivity. The separation factors for the Pr(III)-Nd(III) and Eu(III)-Gd(III) pairs are gradually suppressed at increasing concentration of tributyl phosphate.     

Lanthanide ion-doped GdPO4 nanorods with dual-modal bio-optical and magnetic resonance imaging properties

Here, dual-modal bioprobes for combined optical and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are reported. Gadolinium orthophosphate (GdPO(4)) nanorods co-doped with light-emitting lanthanide ions have been successfully prepared through a hydrothermal method. An efficient downconversion luminescence from Ce/Tb or Eu doped GdPO(4) nanorods and upconversion luminescence from Yb/Er co-doped GdPO(4) nanorods are observed, respectively, which offers the optical modality for the nanoprobes. Notably, we first report the upconversion phenomenon based on the GdPO(4) matrix under 980 nm near infrared irradiation. The possibility of using these nanoprobes with downconversion and upconversion luminescent emissions for optical cell imaging is also demonstrated. Furthermore, these Gd(3+)-containing nanophosphors show good positive signal-enhancement ability when performed under a 4.7 T MR imaging scanner, indicating they have potential as T(1) MR imaging contrast agents. Thus, nanoprobes based on GdPO(4) nanophosphors are shown to provide the dual modality of optical and MR imaging.     

Lanthanide(III) complexes of a highly efficient actinide(III) extracting agent – 2,6-bis(5,6-dipropyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)pyridine

The addition of lanthanide(III) nitrates (Sm–Lu) to the actinide(III) extracting agent – 2,6-bis(5,6-dipropyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)pyridine (L¹) in a 1:1 ratio results in the crystallisation of complexes containing [Ln(L¹)₃]³⁺ moieties and a variety of anions.     

A CatalyCEST MRI Contrast Agent that Can Simultaneously Detect Two Enzyme Activities

The simultaneous detection of multiple enzyme activities can improve the specificity of disease diagnoses. We therefore synthesized and characterized a diamagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI contrast agent that can simultaneously detect two enzyme activities. Sulfatase and esterase enzymes cleave the ligands of the CEST agent, releasing salicylic acid that can be detected with CEST MRI. Importantly, both enzymes are required to activate the agent to produce a CEST MRI contrast, and the CEST agent was stable without enzyme treatment. These results established that this diamagnetic CEST MRI contrast agent is a platform technology with a modular design that can be potentially exploited to detect other combinations of enzyme activities, which can expand the armamentarium of contrast agents for molecular imaging.     

In Vitro and In Vivo Behaviour of In Complexes of TTHA, TTHA-Bis(Butylamide) and TTHA-Bis(Glucamide): Stability, Biodistribution and Excretion Studied by Gamma Imaging

Aiming at radiopharmaceutical application, (111)In(3+) complexes of the polyaminocarboxylates TTHA, TTHA-bis(butylamide) and TTHA-bis(glucamide) were investigated. The in vitro stability of (111)In(TTHA)(3-) and (111)In(TTHA-bis(butylamide)(-) was evaluated by measuring the exchange of (111)In(3+) from the complexes to transferrin and the results were compared with those for (111)In(DTPA)(2-). We also performed biodistribution studies of the three (111)In(3+) complexes by gamma-imaging in Wistar rats and by measuring the radioactivity in their organs. TTHA and its derivatives seem to have similar in vivo biodistribution with prevailing renal excretion.     

Self-assembled bright luminescent hierarchical materials from a tripodal benzoate antenna and heptadentate Eu(III) and Tb(III) cyclen complexes

The europium heptadentate coordinatively unsaturated (Eu(III)) and the terbium (Tb(III)) 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) complexes 1 and 2 were used in conjunction with ligand 3 (1,3,5-benzene-trisethynylbenzoate) to form the supramolecular self-assembly structures 4 and 5;this being investigated in both the solid and the solution state. The resulting self-assemblies gave rise to metal centered emission (both in the solid and solution) upon excitation of 3, confirming its role as a sensitizing antenna. Drop-cased examples of ligand 3, and the solid forms of 4 and 5, formed from both organic and mixture of organic-aqueous solutions, were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy, which showed significant changes in morphology;the ligand giving rise to one dimensional structures, while both 4 and 5 formed amorphous materials that were highly dense solid networks containing nanoporous features. The surface area (216 and 119 m2·g^-1 for 4 and 5 respectively) and the ability of these porous materials to capture and store gases such as N2 investigated at 77 K. The self-assembly formation was also investigated in diluted solution by monitoring the various photophysical properties of 3–5. This demonstrated that the most stable structures were that consisting of a single antennae 3 and three complexes of 1 or 2 (e.g., 4 and 5) in solution. By monitoring the excited state lifetimes of the Eu(III) and Tb(III) ions in H2O and D2O respectively, we showed that their hydration states (the q-value) changed from -2 to 0, upon formation of the assemblies, indicating that the three benzoates of 3 coordinated directly to the each of the three lanthanide centers. Finally we demonstrate that this hierarchically porous materials can be used for the sensing of organic solvents as the emission is highly depended on the solvent environment;the lanthanide emission being quenched in the presence of acetonitrile and THF, but greatly enhanced in the presence of methanol.     

Interactions of trivalent lanthanide cations with tetradentate Schiff bases. Synthesis and characterization of lanthanide(III) complexes with N,N′-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)benzene-1,2-diamine

The novel lanthanide(III) complexes [La(NO₃)₃(H₂O)L] 1, and [Ln(NO₃)₃L] (Ln=Pr 2, Sm 3, Gd 4) where L=N,N^′-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)benzene-1,2-diamine, have been obtained by direct reaction of the Schiff base ligand and the corresponding hydrated lanthanide(III) nitrates in methanol. All complexes were characterized spectroscopically and thermogravimetrically. Complex 3 was also characterized with crystallographic studies. In the molecular structure of 3, Sm(III) is surrounded by all four nitrogen atoms of the Schiff base and six oxygen atoms belonging to three bidentate chelating nitrato ligands.