Influence of calcium-induced aggregation on the sensitivity of aminobis(methylenephosphonate)-containing potential MRI contrast agents.

A novel class of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-tris(methylenecarboxylic) acid (DO3A)-based lanthanide complexes with relaxometric response to Ca(2+) was synthesized, and their physicochemical properties were investigated. Four macrocyclic ligands containing an alkyl-aminobis(methylenephosphonate) side chain for Ca(2+)-chelation have been studied (alkyl is propyl, butyl, pentyl, and hexyl for L(1), L(2), L(3), and L(4), respectively). Upon addition of Ca(2+), the r(1) relaxivity of their Gd(3+) complexes decreased up to 61% of the initial value for the best compounds GdL(3) and GdL(4). The relaxivity of the complexes was concentration dependent (it decreases with increasing concentration). Diffusion NMR studies on the Y(3+) analogues evidenced the formation of agglomerates at higher concentrations; the aggregation becomes even more important in the presence of Ca(2+). (31)P NMR experiments on EuL(1) and EuL(4) indicated the coordination of a phosphonate to the Ln(3+) for the ligand with a propyl chain, while phosphonate coordination was not observed for the analogue bearing a hexyl linker. Potentiometric titrations yielded protonation constants of the Gd(3+) complexes. log K(H1) values for all complexes lie between 6.12 and 7.11 whereas log K(H2) values are between 4.61 and 5.87. Luminescence emission spectra recorded on the Eu(3+) complexes confirmed the coordination of a phosphonate group to the Ln(3+) center in EuL(1). Luminescence lifetime measurements showed that Ca-induced agglomeration reduces the hydration number which is the main cause for the change in r(1). Variable temperature (17)O NMR experiments evidenced high water exchange rates on GdL(1), GdL(2), and GdL(3) comparable to that of the aqua ion.

A novel tetraazamacrocycle bearing a thiol pendant arm for labeling biomolecules with radiolanthanides.

The novel tetraazamacrocycle 10-(2-sulfanylethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (H(4)DO3ASH) was synthesized and characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, 2D NMR techniques and mass spectrometry. The protonation constants of H(4)DO3ASH were determined by potentiometry at 25 degrees C in 0.1 M KCl ionic strength, and the protonation sequence was assigned based on (1)H- and (13)C-NMR titrations. The stability constants of the DO3ASH complexes with Ce(3+), Sm(3+) and Ho(3+) have been determined by potentiometry and UV-Vis spectroscopy. They are very similar, comprising a narrow range (logK(ML) = 21.0-22.0). UV-Vis spectrophotometric data on Ce(3+)-DO3ASH and relaxivity measurements on the Gd(3+)-DO3ASH complex suggest that the thiol group does not coordinate to the metal, even in its deprotonated form. For labeling with radioactive lanthanides(iii), various conditions were tested and both complexes, (153)Sm/(166)Ho-DO3ASH, were obtained in quantitative yield (> 98%) at pH = 6. At room temperature, formation kinetics were faster for the (153)Sm than for the (166)Ho complex (5 vs. 60 min, respectively, needed for complete labeling). The stability of these hydrophilic complexes ((153)Sm, logD = -2.1; (166)Ho, logD = -1.6) has been studied in different buffers, in human serum and in the presence of excess of cysteine and glutathione. (153)Sm-DO3ASH has shown a high stability under these conditions and a relatively low protein binding (2.1%), while (166)Ho-DO3ASH was less stable, including in the presence of cysteine and glutathione, and had a slightly higher protein binding (6.7%). In vivo studies have been performed only for the more stable (153)Sm-DO3ASH complex and its biological profile and in vivo stability has been compared to that of (153)Sm-DO3A in the same animal model. The biodistribution profile presents a similar trend with rapid total excretion from the whole animal body, mainly via the urinary pathway. The most striking difference found is related to a slightly slower clearance of (153)Sm-DO3ASH from organs like blood, bone and muscle as compared to (153)Sm-DO3A. Additionally, the fraction of (153)Sm-DO3ASH taken by the hepatobiliar tract is also modestly higher than that of (153)Sm-DO3A.

A quinazoline-derivative DOTA-type gallium(III) complex for targeting epidermal growth factor receptors: synthesis, characterisation and biological studies.

The novel DOTA-like chelator 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1-{4-[(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)amino]quinazoline-6-yl}propionamide-4,7,10-triacetic acid (H(3)L) was synthesised by alkylation of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-tris(t-butyl acetate) with N-{4-[(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)amino]quinazoline-6-yl}-3-bromopropionamide, followed by hydrolysis of the ester groups with trifluoracetic acid. H(3)L has been fully characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Five protonation constants, log K (Hi ), of H(3)L were determined by potentiometry and UV-vis spectrophotometry and the values found are 10.47, 9.18, 5.24, 4.00 and 2.23. These methods, complemented with variable-pH (71)Ga NMR studies, allowed us to ascertain the stability constant of the Ga(III) complex of L. GaL has a remarkably high thermodynamic stability constant (log K (ML) = 24.5). The radioactive complex (67)GaL was prepared in high yield and high radiochemical purity. Its HPLC chromatogram is identical to that obtained for the GaL complex prepared at the macroscopic level. At pH 7.4, (67)GaL has an overall neutral charge, is highly hydrophilic (log D = -1.02 +/- 0.03) and presents high in vitro stability in physiological media and in the presence of an excess of diethylenetriaminepentaethanoic acid . In vitro studies indicated that H(3)L and GaL do not inhibit the cell growth of epidermal growth factor receptor expressing cell lines, such as A431 cervical carcinoma cells, a result which agrees with the very low cell internalisation found for (67)GaL in the same cell line. Biodistribution studies in mice indicated high in vivo stability for (67)GaL, a high total excretion rate and a relatively slow blood clearance, in full accordance with its hydrophilic character and the relatively important protein binding.

Facile synthesis and relaxation properties of novel bispolyazamacrocyclic Gd3+ complexes: an attempt towards calcium-sensitive MRI contrast agents.

Three novel GdDO3A-type bismacrocyclic complexes, conjugated to Ca (2+) chelating moieties like ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid bisamides, were synthesized as potential "smart" magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. Their sensitivity toward Ca (2+) was studied by relaxometric titrations. A maximum relaxivity increase of 15, 6, and 32% was observed upon Ca (2+) binding for Gd 2L (1), Gd 2L (2), and Gd 2L (3), respectively (L (1) = N, N-bis{1-[{[({1-[1,4,7-tris(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-10-yl]eth-2-yl}amino)carbonyl]methyl}-(carboxymethyl)amino]eth-2-yl}aminoacetic acid; L (2) = N, N-bis[1-({[({alpha-[1,4,7-tris(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-10-yl]- p-tolylamino}carbonyl)methyl]-(carboxymethyl)}amino)eth-2-yl]aminoacetic acid; L (3) = 1,2-bis[{[({1-[1,4,7-tris(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-10-yl]eth-2-yl}amino)carbonyl]methyl}(carboxymethyl)amino]ethane). The apparent association constants are log K A = 3.6 +/- 0.1 for Gd 2L (1) and log K A = 3.4 +/- 0.1 for Gd 2L (3). For the interaction between Mg (2+) and Gd 2L (1), log K A = 2.7 +/- 0.1 has been determined, while no relaxivity change was detected with Gd 2L (3). Luminescence lifetime measurements on the Eu (3+) complexes in the absence of Ca (2+) gave hydration numbers of q = 0.9 (Eu 2L (1)), 0.7 (Eu 2L (2)), and 1.3 (Eu 2L (3)). The parameters influencing proton relaxivity of the Gd (3+) complexes were assessed by a combined nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) and (17)O NMR study. Water exchange is relatively slow on Gd 2L (1) and Gd 2L (2) ( k ex (298) = 0.5 and 0.8 x 10 (6) s (-1)), while it is faster on Gd 2L (3) (k ex (298) = 80 x 10 (6) s (-1)); in any case, it is not sensitive to the presence of Ca (2+). The rotational correlation time, tau R (298), differs for the three complexes and reflects their rigidity. Due to the benzene linker, the Gd 2L (2) complex is remarkably rigid, with a correspondingly high relaxivity despite the low hydration number ( r 1 = 10.2 mM (-1)s (-1) at 60 MHz, 298 K). On the basis of all available experimental data from luminescence, (17)O NMR, and NMRD studies on the Eu (3+) and Gd (3+) complexes of L (1) and L (3) in the absence and in the presence of Ca (2+), we conclude that the relaxivity increase observed upon Ca (2+) addition can be mainly ascribed to the increase in the hydration number, and, to a smaller extent, to the Ca (2+)-induced rigidification of the complex.

Towards extracellular Ca2+ sensing by MRI: synthesis and calcium-dependent 1H and 17O relaxation studies of two novel bismacrocyclic Gd3+ complexes.

Two new bismacrocyclic Gd3+ chelates containing a specific Ca2+ binding site were synthesized as potential MRI contrast agents for the detection of Ca2+ concentration changes at the millimolar level in the extracellular space. In the ligands, the Ca2+-sensitive BAPTA-bisamide central part is separated from the DO3A macrocycles either by an ethylene (L1) or by a propylene (L2) unit [H4BAPTA is 1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid; H3DO3A is 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid]. The sensitivity of the Gd3+ complexes towards Ca2+ and Mg2+ was studied by (1)H relaxometric titrations. A maximum relaxivity increase of 15 and 10% was observed upon Ca2+ binding to Gd2L1 and Gd2L2, respectively, with a distinct selectivity of Gd2L1 towards Ca2+ compared with Mg2+. For Ca2+ binding, association constants of log K = 1.9 (Gd2L1) and log K = 2.7 (Gd2L2) were determined by relaxometry. Luminescence lifetime measurements and UV-vis spectrophotometry on the corresponding Eu3+ analogues proved that the complexes exist in the form of monohydrated and nonhydrated species; Ca2+ binding in the central part of the ligand induces the formation of the monohydrated state. The increasing hydration number accounts for the relaxivity increase observed on Ca2+ addition. A 1H nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion and 17O NMR study on Gd2L1 in the absence and in the presence of Ca2+ was performed to assess the microscopic parameters influencing relaxivity. On Ca2+ binding, the water exchange is slightly accelerated, which is likely related to the increased steric demand of the central part leading to a destabilization of the Ln-water binding interaction.

Monopropionate analogues of DOTA4- and DTPA5-: kinetics of formation and dissociation of their lanthanide(III) complexes.

The replacement of an acetate function of the macrocyclic DOTA4-(DO3A-Nprop4-) or the acyclic DTPA5- in terminal position (DTTA-Nprop5-) has been recently shown to result in a significant increase of the water exchange rate on the Gd3+ complexes, which makes these chelates potential contrast agents for MRI applications. Here, two novel and straightforward synthetic routes to H4DO3A-Nprop are described. Protonation constants of DO3A-Nprop4- and stability constants with several alkaline earth and transition metal ions have been determined by potentiometry. For each metal, the thermodynamic stability constant is decreased in comparison to the DOTA chelates. The formation reaction of LnDO3A-Nprop- complexes (Ln=Ce, Gd and Yb) proceeds via the rapid formation of a diprotonated intermediate and its subsequent deprotonation and rearrangement in a slow, OH- catalyzed process. The stability of the LnH2DO3A-Nprop* intermediates is similar to those reported for the corresponding DOTA analogues. The rate constants of the OH- catalyzed deprotonation step increase with decreasing lanthanide ion size, and are slightly higher than for DOTA complexes. The kinetic inertness of GdDTTA-Nprop2- was characterized by the rates of its exchange reactions with Zn2+ and Eu3+. The rate of the reaction between GdDTTA-Nprop2- and Zn2+ increases with Zn2+ concentration, while it is independent of pH, implying that the exchange takes place predominantly via direct attack of the metal ion on the complex. In the Eu3+ exchange, the rate decreases with increasing concentration of the exchanging ion which is accounted for by the transitional formation of a dinuclear GdDTTA-NpropEu+ species. The kinetic inertness of the monopropionate GdDTTA-Nprop2- is decreased in comparison to GdDTPA2-: all rate constants, characterizing the dissociation reaction via either proton- or metal-catalyzed pathways being higher by 1-2 orders of magnitude. Similarly, a study of the acid-catalyzed dissociation of the macrocyclic CeDO3A-Nprop- showed a partial loss of the kinetic inertness with regard to the tetraacetate derivative CeDOTA-.