Development of contrast agents that image tumor-specific protease for Overhauser effect-enhaced MRI

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Overhauser-enhanced MRI (OMRI) is a double resonance technique that uses the presence of paramagnetic agents such as nitroxyl radicals to enhance the signal intensity from nuclear spins by a process known as the Overhauser effect. In this study, dendritic poly(L-lysine) polymers were modified with stable nitroxyl radicals through substrate peptides of a protease specifically expressed in tumors. Cleavage of the peptides by the protease affected the OMRI signal from the radicals. This system could be the basis of a functional tumor imaging technique by OMRI.