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The search for more biocompatible alternatives to Gd3+‐based MRI agents, and the interest in 52Mn for PET imaging call for ligands that form inert Mn2+ chelates. Given the labile nature of Mn2+, high inertness is challenging to achieve. The strongly preorganized structure of the 2,4‐pyridyl‐disubstituted bispidol ligand L1 endows its Mn2+ complex with exceptional kinetic inertness. Indeed, MnL1 did not show any dissociation for 140 days in the presence of 50 equiv. of Zn2+ (37 °C, pH 6), while recently reported potential MRI agents MnPyC3A and MnPC2A‐EA have dissociation half‐lives of 0.285 h and 54.4 h under similar conditions. In addition, the relaxivity of MnL1 (4.28 mm−1 s−1 at 25 °C, 20 MHz) is remarkable for a monohydrated, small Mn2+ chelate. In vivo MRI experiments in mice and determination of the tissue Mn content evidence rapid renal clearance of MnL1. Additionally, L1 could be radiolabeled with 52Mn and the complex revealed good stability in biological media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many smart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes provide response to a biomarker based on modulation of their rotational correlation time. The magnitude of such MRI signal changes is highly dependent on the magnetic field and the response decreases dramatically at high fields (>2 T). To overcome the loss of efficiency of responsive probes at high field, with fast‐field cycling magnetic resonance imaging (FFC‐MRI) we exploit field‐dependent information rather than the absolute difference in the relaxation rate measured in the absence and in the presence of the biomarker at a given imaging field. We report here the application of fast field‐cycling techniques combined with the use of a molecular probe for the detection of Zn2+ to achieve 166 % MRI signal enhancement at 3 T, whereas the same agent provides no detectable response using conventional MRI. This approach can be generalized to any biomarker provided the detection is based on variation of the rotational motion of the probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lanthanide-containing nanoscale particles have been widely explored for various biomedical purposes, however, they are often prone to metal leaching. Here we have created a new coordination polymer (CP) by applying, for the first time, a stable GdIII chelate as building block in order to prevent any fortuitous release of free lanthanide(III) ion. The use of the Gd-DOTA-4AmP complex as a design element in the CP allows not only for enhanced relaxometric properties (maximum r1=16.4 m m−1 s−1 at 10 MHz), but also for a pH responsiveness (Δ r1=108 % between pH 4 and 6.5), beyond the values obtained for the low molecular weight Gd-DOTA-4AmP itself. The CP can be miniaturised to the nanoscale to form colloids that are stable in physiological saline solution and in cell culture media and does not show cytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly rigid open-chain octadentate ligand (H4cddadpa) containing a diaminocylohexane unit to replace the ethylenediamine bridge of 6,6′-[(ethane-1,2 diylbis{(carboxymethyl)azanediyl})bis(methylene)]dipicolinic acid (H4octapa) was synthesized. This structural modification improves the thermodynamic stability of the Gd3+ complex slightly (log KGdL=20.68 vs. 20.23 for [Gd(octapa)]−) while other MRI-relevant parameters remain unaffected (one coordinated water molecule; relaxivity r1=5.73 m m−1 s−1 at 20 MHz and 295 K). Kinetic inertness is improved by the rigidifying effect of the diaminocylohexane unit in the ligand skeleton (half-life of dissociation for physiological conditions is 6 orders of magnitude higher for [Gd(cddadpa)]− ( t1/2=1.49×105 h) than for [Gd(octapa)]−. The kinetic inertness of this novel chelate is superior by 2-3 orders of magnitude compared to non-macrocyclic MRI contrast agents approved for clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Gd3+ complexes exhibiting a relaxometric response to zwitterionic amino acid neurotransmitters was synthesized. The design concept involves ditopic interactions 1) between a positively charged and coordinatively unsaturated Gd3+ chelate and the carboxylate group of the neurotransmitters and 2) between an azacrown ether appended to the chelate and the amino group of the neurotransmitters. The chelates differ in the nature and length of the linker connecting the cyclen-type macrocycle that binds the Ln3+ ion and the crown ether. The complexes are monohydrated, but they exhibit high proton relaxivities (up to 7.7 mm-1 s-1 at 60 MHz, 310 K) due to slow molecular tumbling. The formation of ternary complexes with neurotransmitters was monitored by ¹H relaxometric titrations of the Gd3+ complexes and by luminescence measurements on the Eu3+ and Tb3+ analogues at pH 7.4. The remarkable relaxivity decrease (≈80%) observed on neurotransmitter binding is related to the decrease in the hydration number, as evidenced by luminescence lifetime measurements on the Eu3+ complexes. These complexes show affinity for amino acid neurotransmitters in the millimolar range, which can be suited to imaging concentrations of synaptically released neurotransmitters. They display good selectivity over nonamino acid neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, serotonin, and noradrenaline) and hydrogenphosphate, but selectivity over hydrogencarbonate was not achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new pyclen-3,9-diacetate derivative ligand (H23,9-OPC2A) was synthesized possessing an etheric O-atom opposite to the pyridine ring, to improve the dissociation kinetics of its Mn(II) complex (pyclen = 3,6,9,15-tetraazabicyclo(9.3.1)pentadeca-1(15),11,13-triene). The new ligand is less basic than the N-containing analogue (H23,9-PC2A) due to the non-protonable O-atom. In spite of its lower basicity, the conditional stability of the [Mn(3,9-OPC2A)] (pMn = −log(Mn(II)), cL = cMn(II) = 0.01 mM. pH = 7.4) remains unaffected (pMn = 8.69), compared to the [Mn(3,9-PC2A)] (pMn = 8.64). The [Mn(3,9-OPC2A)] possesses one water molecule, having a lower exchange rate with bulk solvents (kex298 = 5.3 ± 0.4 × 107 s−1) than [Mn(3,9-PC2A)] (kex298 = 1.26 × 108 s−1). These mild differences are rationalized by density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. The acid assisted dissociation of [Mn(3,9-OPC2A)] is considerably slower (k1 = 2.81 ± 0.07 M−1 s−1) than that of the complexes of diacetates or bisamides of various 12-membered macrocycles and the parent H23,9-PC2A. The [Mn(3,9-OPC2A)] is inert in rat/human serum as confirmed by 52Mn labeling (nM range), as well as by relaxometry (mM range). However, a 600-fold excess of EDTA (pH = 7.4) or a mixture of essential metal ions, propagated some transchelation/transmetalation in 7 days. The H23,9-OPC2A is labeled efficiently with 52Mn at elevated temperatures, yet at 37 °C the parent H23,9-PC2A performs slightly better. Ultimately, the H23,9-OPC2A shows advantageous features for further ligand designs for bifunctional chelators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gd3L is a trinuclear Gd3+ complex of intermediate size, designed for contrast agent applications in high field magnetic resonance imaging (H12L is based on a trimethylbenzene core bearing three methylene-diethylenetriamine- N,N,N″, N″-tetraacetate moieties). Thanks to its appropriate size, the presence of two inner sphere water molecules and a fast water exchange, Gd3L has remarkable proton relaxivities at high magnetic field ( r1 = 10.2 vs 3.0 m M−1 s−1 for GdDOTA at 9.4 T, 37°C, in H2O). Here we report an in vivo MRI feasibility study, complemented with dynamic γ scintigraphic imaging and biodistribution experiments using the 153Sm-enriched analog. MRI experiments were performed at 9.4 T in mice with Gd3L and the commercial contrast agent gadolinium(III)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetate (GdDOTA). Gd3L was well tolerated by the animals at the dose of 8 µmol Gd kg−1 body weight. Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) images showed considerably higher signal enhancement in the kidney medulla and cortex after Gd3L injection than after GdDOTA injection at an identical dose. The relaxation rates, Δ R1, were calculated from the IR TrueFISP data. During the excretory phase, the Δ R1 for various tissues was similar for Gd3L and GdDOTA, when the latter was injected at a three-fold higher dose (24 vs 8 µmol Gd kg−1 body weight). These results point to an approximately three times higher in vivo relaxivity (per Gd) for Gd3L relative to GdDOTA, thus the ratio of the relaxivities of the two compounds determined in vitro is retained under in vivo conditions. They also indicate that the two inner sphere water molecules per Gd in Gd3L are not substantially replaced by endogenous anions or other donor groups under physiological conditions. Gd3L has a pharmacokinetics typical of small, hydrophilic complexes, involving fast renal clearance and no retention in the blood pool. The dynamic γ scintigraphic studies and the biodistribution experiments performed in Wistar rats with 153Sm-enriched *Sm3L are also indicative of a fast elimination via the kidneys. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report two macrocyclic ligands based on a 1,7-diaza-12-crown-4 platform functionalized with acetate (tO2DO2A2−) or piperidineacetamide (tO2DO2AMPip) pendant arms and a detailed characterization of the corresponding Mn(II) complexes. The X−ray structure of [Mn(tO2DO2A)(H2O)]·2H2O shows that the metal ion is coordinated by six donor atoms of the macrocyclic ligand and one water molecule, to result in seven-coordination. The Cu(II) analogue presents a distorted octahedral coordination environment. The protonation constants of the ligands and the stability constants of the complexes formed with Mn(II) and other biologically relevant metal ions (Mg(II), Ca(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)) were determined using potentiometric titrations (I = 0.15 M NaCl, T = 25 °C). The conditional stabilities of Mn(II) complexes at pH 7.4 are comparable to those reported for the cyclen-based tDO2A2− ligand. The dissociation of the Mn(II) chelates were investigated by evaluating the rate constants of metal exchange reactions with Cu(II) under acidic conditions (I = 0.15 M NaCl, T = 25 °C). Dissociation of the [Mn(tO2DO2A)(H2O)] complex occurs through both proton− and metal−assisted pathways, while the [Mn(tO2DO2AMPip)(H2O)] analogue dissociates through spontaneous and proton-assisted mechanisms. The Mn(II) complex of tO2DO2A2− is remarkably inert with respect to its dissociation, while the amide analogue is significantly more labile. The presence of a water molecule coordinated to Mn(II) imparts relatively high relaxivities to the complexes. The parameters determining this key property were investigated using 17O NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) transverse relaxation rates and 1H nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innenrücktitelbild: Unprecedented Kinetic Inertness for a Mn2+-Bispidine Chelate: A Novel Structural Entry for Mn2+-Based Imaging Agents (Angew. Keywords: 52Mn; contrast agents; kinetic inertness; manganese; MRI EN 52Mn contrast agents kinetic inertness manganese MRI 12319 12319 1 07/08/20 20200713 NES 200713 B Mn SP 2+ sp -Komplexe b sind biokompatiblere Alternativen zu Gd SP 3+ sp -basierten MRI-Reagentien, und SP 52 sp Mn ist ein neuartiges Radionuklid für die Positronenemissionstomographie. 52Mn, contrast agents, kinetic inertness, manganese, MRI. [Extracted from the article]

This article aimed at reviewing the advances on the development of paramagnetic complexes used as chemical exchange saturation transfer agents in magnetic resonance imaging. This relatively new type of contrast opens new avenues in the development of MRI probes for molecular imaging, and coordination chemistry lies at the center of such advances. Strategies to detect important biomarkers such as pH, cations, anions, metabolites, enzyme, and O2 were described. The current challenges, limitations, and opportunities in this field of research were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]