Biodegradable macromolecular contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging

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Publication Type dissertation
School or College College of Pharmacy
Department Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Author Mohs, Aaron Michael
Title Biodegradable macromolecular contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging
Date 2006-12
Description Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool for diagnostic imaging. Low molecular weight paramagnetic Gd(III) complexes are often used to enhance the depiction of disease morphology or functionality. Although safe, these complexes have poor pharmacokinetic performance limiting their application when selective enhancement of the blood pool is needed. Macromolecular Gd(III) complexes have demonstrated significantly higher contrast enhancement of the vasculature because their large size limits their clearance and diffusion from the blood pool into surrounding tissue. Macromolecular Gd(III) complexes have shown superior efficacy over clinically approved contrast agents in the noninvasive detection of a wide range of disease in preclinical studies. Unfortunately, the prolonged circulation of previously designed macromolecular Gd(III) complexes results in the metabolic release and subsequent tissue uptake of highly toxic Gd(III) ions. A promising alternative to this challenge is the development of biodegradable polydisulfide Gd(III) complexes. Initially, these polymers would circulate in the vasculature giving the efficacy of a macromolecular contrast agent, but over time would be gradually degraded via the thiol-disulfide exchange reaction yielding small Gd(III) complexes that can readily be cleared. Specifically, the work undertaken in this project was to modify the degradation of polydisulfide Gd(III) complexes by conjugating poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) around the disulfide bond of poly(GdDTPA-co-L-cystine) (GDCP) yielding PEG-GDCP. PEG-GDCP was synthesized in a variety of molecular weights, PEG grafting degrees, and PEG sizes. In vitro, these agents showed degradation to a thiol, which was dependent on the type of PEG grafting. In vivo, PEG-GDCP showed excellent enhancement of the blood pool of mice compared to a clinical control, Gd(DTPA-BMA), including very small vasculature. One agent tested, PEG<sub>1000
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Imaging Enhancement
Subject MESH Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name PhD
Language eng
Relation is Version of Digital reproduction of "Biodegradable macromolecular contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library.
Rights Management © Aaron Michael Mohs.
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 3,600,476 bytes
Identifier undthes,3924
Source Original University of Utah Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library (no longer available)
Funding/Fellowship NIH grants R01 EB00489 and R33 CA095873; PhRMA Foundation predoctoral fellowship
Master File Extent 3,600,503 bytes
ARK ark:/87278/s6sj1ncb
Setname ir_etd
ID 190623
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6sj1ncb