Recent Advances in Bifunctional Paramagnetic Chelates for MRI |
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| Authors: | Prof Giovanni B Giovenzana Dr Luciano Lattuada Dr Roberto Negri |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, L.go Donegani 2/3, I-28100 Novara, Italy;2. Bracco Imaging SpA, Bracco Research Centre, Via Ribes 5, I-10010, Colleretto Giacosa, TO, Italy |
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| Abstract: | Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive diagnostic modality routinely employed in modern clinical medicine to collect images of the internal organs of the human body. Contrast agents (CA) are usually administered to patients to improve the sensitivity of this technique and nowadays these agents are gadolinium complexes. Bifunctional chelating agents (BFCAs) are dual molecules containing a multidentate ligand, able to strongly coordinate a metal ion, and a reactive moiety for conjugation purposes. With BFCAs an easy labelling of biomolecules or vectors with paramagnetic ions is possible, allowing the in vivo MRI visualization of diseases at cellular or molecular level. |
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| Keywords: | chelating agents MRI gadolinium conjugation molecular imaging |
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