Gadolinium MRI Contrast
Agents Based on Triazine Dendrimers:
Relaxivity and In Vivo Pharmacokinetics
- Publication date
- Publisher
Abstract
Four gadolinium (Gd)-based macromolecular contrast agents, <b>G3-(Gd-DOTA)</b><sub><b>24</b></sub>, <b>G5-(Gd-DOTA)</b><sub><b>96</b></sub>, <b>G3-(Gd-DTPA)</b><sub><b>24</b></sub>, and <b>G5-(Gd-DTPA)</b><sub><b>96</b></sub>,
were prepared that varied in the size of dendrimer (generation three
and five), the type of chelate group (DTPA or DOTA), and the theoretical
number of metalated chelates (24 and 96). Synthesis relied on a dichlorotriazine
derivatized with a DOTA or DTPA ligand that was incorporated into
the dendrimer and ultimately metalated with Gd ions. Paramagnetic
characteristics and in vivo pharmacokinetics of all four contrast
agents were investigated. The DOTA-containing agents, <b>G3-(Gd-DOTA)</b><sub><b>24</b></sub> and <b>G5-(Gd-DOTA)</b><sub><b>96</b></sub>, demonstrated exceptionally high <i>r</i>1 relaxivity values at off-peak magnetic fields. Additionally, <b>G5-(Gd-DOTA)</b><sub><b>96</b></sub> showed increased <i>r</i>1 relaxivity in serum compared to that in PBS, which was
consistent with in vivo images. While <b>G3-(Gd-DOTA)</b><sub><b>24</b></sub> and <b>G3-(Gd-DTPA)</b><sub><b>24</b></sub> were rapidly excreted into the urine, <b>G5-(Gd-DOTA)</b><sub><b>96</b></sub> and <b>G5-(Gd-DTPA)</b><sub><b>96</b></sub> did not clear as quickly through the kidneys. Molecular
simulation of the DOTA-containing dendrimers suggests that a majority
of the metalated ligands are accessible to water. These triazine dendrimer-based
MRI contrast agents exhibit several promising features such as high
in vivo <i>r</i>1 relaxivity, desirable pharmacokinetics,
and well-defined structure