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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Preparation, Purification, and Characterization of Lanthanide Complexes for Use as Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: July 21, 2011
How to determine the number of inner-sphere water molecules in Lanthanide(III) complexes by 17O NMR spectroscopy. A
Kristina Djanashvili1, Joop A Peters
1Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Organic Chemistry, Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 136, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Lanthanide(III) complexes of polyaminocarboxylates are widely used in MRI as contrast agents. The paramagnetic properties of the metal ion contribute to the increase of (1)H relaxation rates, while the chelate offers a stable binding with the metal. The number of water molecules, coordinated directly to the Ln(III) ion, is very important for the relaxivity and, thus, the efficacy of these contrast agents. Here, we describe convenient methods to determine this parameter by measurement of Ln(III)-induced shifts of the water (17)O NMR resonance.
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