PARACEST Agents: Optimization for Human MR Imaging

描述（由申请人提供）：顺磁化学交换饱和转移（PARACEST）试剂为磁共振成像提供了一个潜在的新范例。这类试剂的一个优点是能够通过以其结合水共振或交换NH基团的频率施加选择性射频照射来打开或关闭每种试剂。这一特性意味着多个靶向PARACEST试剂可以一起注射，它们的效果可以顺序或同时成像。在它们的“关闭”状态下，即当没有特异性照射时，PARACEST试剂不会干扰常规的MR成像序列，无论是否有钆。原则上，PARACEST药剂可以针对每种应用进行定制，因为它们的效果取决于它们的水交换速率，而这些速率可以使用合理的化学原理进行修改。这一特性也使它们成为开发响应代理和双功能代理的有吸引力的平台。该BRP的目标是通过系统地解决一些基础、理论和实践问题，实现这些化合物作为体内造影剂的全部潜力。其中包括建立成像实验中测量的效应大小与水交换寿命、结合水和散装水之间的化学位移差大小、饱和射频场强度、SAR、浓度和体内局部环境之间的关系。这一伙伴关系由两个学术机构和一个工业合作伙伴组成。三个主要重叠和相互作用的重点领域是：镧系化学，这将在德州大学达拉斯分校进行；脉冲序列的实现、理论、模拟和体外验证将主要在通用电气全球研究中心（GEGRC）进行，体内验证主要在BIDMC进行。Dean Sherry（项目负责人，UTD）是国际公认的镧系螯合物合成和表征专家。Donald Woessner（首席研究员，UTD），国际公认的核磁共振交换理论基础专家。Thomas Dixon和lleana hanku（项目负责人，GEGRC）都是核磁共振和磁共振成像方面的专家。Robert Lenkinski （PI， BIDMC）是一名核磁共振波谱师，在镧系试剂和核磁共振成像方面都有专业知识。David Alsop （BIDMC首席研究员）在优化动脉自旋标记灌注研究方面有着长期的记录，在射频照射下检测小信号强度变化是必要的。在过去的几年里，这个团队一直在PARACEST效应的理论和实践方面进行合作。该项目的成功完成将产生一套用于人体研究的试剂和MR获取策略。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer (PARACEST) agents offer a potential new paradigm in MR imaging. An advantage to this class of agents is the ability to switch each agent on or off through selective RF irradiation applied at the frequency of either its bound water resonance or an exchanging NH group. This feature means that multiple, targeted PARACEST agents can be injected together and their effects imaged either sequentially or simultaneously. In their "off" state, i.e. when not specifically irradiated, PARACEST agents will not interfere with conventional MR imaging sequences, with or without gadolinium. In principle, PARACEST agents can be tailored to each application because their effects depend on their water exchange rates, and these rates can be modified using rational chemical principles. This feature also makes them an attractive platform for the development of responsive agents and bifunctional agents. The goal of this BRP is to realize the full potential of these compounds as contrast agents in vivo, by systematically addressing a number of basic, theoretical and practical questions. These include establishing the relationships among the magnitude of the effect measured in an imaging experiment and the water exchange lifetime, the magnitude of the chemical shift difference between the bound and bulk water, the strength of the saturating RF field, SAR, concentration, and local environment in vivo. This partnership is made up of two academic institutions and an industrial collaborator. The three main overlapping and interactive areas of focus are: lanthanide chemistry, which will be carried out at UT Dallas (UTD); Pulse sequence implementation, theory, simulations and in vitro validation which will be carried out primarily at the General Electric Global Research Center (GEGRC) and in vivo validation carried out primarily at the BIDMC. Dean Sherry (Project Leader, UTD) is an internationally recognized expert in the synthesis and characterization of lanthanide chelates. Donald Woessner (Lead Investigator, UTD), an internationally recognized expert in basic NMR exchange theory.Thomas Dixon and lleana Hancu (Project Leaders, GEGRC) are both experts in NMR and MR imaging. Robert Lenkinski (PI, BIDMC) is an NMR spectroscopist with expertise both in lanthanide agents and MR imaging. David Alsop (Lead Investigator, BIDMC) has a long track record in optimizing Arterial Spin Labeling perfusion studies, where the detection of small signal intensity changes in the presence of RF irradiation is necessary. Over the past several years, this team has been collaborating on the theoretical and practical aspects of the PARACEST effect. The successful completion of this project will result in a set of agents and MR acquisition strategies for use in human studies.