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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Preparation and In Vitro Characterization of Dendrimer-based Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: December 4, 2016
[Complexes of gadolinium with linear and liquid-crystalline forms of DNA]
Abstract:
The binding of Gd3+ ions to linear double-stranded DNA molecules in water-salt solutions or in liquid-crystalline dispersions is accompanied by sharp changes in their optical and X-ray characteristics. Depending on the initial conditions of complex formation, the binding of Gd3+ ions either to DNA bases or phosphate groups occurs, which leads to changes in the properties of the liquid-crystalline dispersions. The packing of neighboring DNA molecules in particles of the liquid-crystalline dispersion of the complex DNA-Gd3+ depends strongly on the concentration of Gd3+ ions. This process is accompanied by a decrease in the amplitude of Bragg's reflection maximum. The unique properties of the developed material open the possibilities for its practical use.
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