"Optimizing the efficacy of metal-based MRI probes at high magnetic fields"
This seminar is part of the Chemistry series and is being co-hosted by the EPSRC and CRUK Cancer Imaging Centre in Oxford series
Optimizing the efficacy of Gd-based MRI probes at high magnetic fields

GdIII complexes are in current clinical use as MRI contrast agents. Their ability to enhance the MR image is termed relaxivity and it depends upon many molecular factors, including speciation, protein binding affinity, chemical structure, and dynamic processes, such as water exchange kinetics and rotational tumbling rates. A significant portion of research in the field of contrast agent development is devoted to controlling the relaxivity (efficiency) of GdIII complexes. The structure of the chelate determines the interaction between the ion and the surrounding water molecules, and consequently the relaxivity of the complex. However, clinically used Gd-based contrast agents are low molecular weight, rapidly tumbling complexes with limited efficacy (relaxivity, r1) that decreases with the magnetic field strength. The enhancement of the efficiency of the probe is based on the structural modification of the clinical complexes, guided by a detailed understanding of the relationship between the relaxation parameters and the chemical structure.
Moreover, MRI is increasingly moving to higher fields as the majority of the scanners used in clinics operate at 1.5 – 3 T. Therefore, it is important to develop new T1 agents characterized by enhanced relaxivity over a broad range of imaging field strengths for use with current scanners. Multimeric GdIII agents with intermediate molecular weight (~2-6 kDa) have been proposed as a possible solution. The purpose of this seminar is to discuss recent results in the search for relaxivity enhancement at magnetic field strengths ≥ 1.5 T.
Date: 24 October 2017, 14:00 (Tuesday, 3rd week, Michaelmas 2017)
Venue: Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, South Parks Road OX1 3QR
Venue Details: Lecture Theatre of the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
Speaker: Professor Mauro Botta (Università del Piemonte Orientale)
Organising department: Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
Organisers: Dr Jose Goicoechea (University of Oxford), Anne-Marie Honeyman-Tafa (University of Oxford)
Host: Dr Jose Goicoechea (University of Oxford)
Part of: CRUK & EPSRC Cancer Imaging Centre in Oxford
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Members of the University only
Editor: Anne-Marie Honeyman-Tafa