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Updated: May 19, 2026

An Aptamer-based Sensor for Unchelated Gadolinium(III)

An Aptamer-based Sensor for Unchelated Gadolinium(III)

Published on: January 9, 2017

Target binding improves relaxivity in aptamer-gadolinium conjugates.

Elyse D Bernard¹, Michael A Beking, Karunanithi Rajamanickam

¹Department of Chemistry, Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada.

Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry : JBIC : a Publication of the Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry

|August 21, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study developed novel MRI contrast agents by conjugating DNA aptamers with gadolinium. These agents showed enhanced relaxivity in the presence of thrombin, improving diagnostic imaging potential.

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Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Molecular Imaging
Nanotechnology

Background:

MRI contrast agents enhance diagnostic imaging.
Optimizing magnetic properties and pharmacokinetics improves efficacy.
DNA aptamer-gadolinium conjugates offer simultaneous optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and evaluate DNA aptamer-gadolinium(III) conjugates as MRI contrast agents.
To assess the stability and relaxivity of these novel agents.

Main Methods:

Conjugation of a 15mer thrombin aptamer to diethylenetriaminepentaacetic (DTPA) dianhydride.
Gadolinium(III) chelation to form the contrast agent.
Transmetallation stability study using Zn(II).
Relaxivity measurements at 9.4 and 1.5 T in the presence of thrombin.

Main Results:

The DNA aptamer-DTPA-Gd(III) conjugate exhibited stability comparable to DTPA-Gd(III).
Significant relaxivity enhancements of 35 ± 4% (9.4 T) and 20 ± 1% (1.5 T) were observed with thrombin.
Aptamer-DTPA spacers did not improve relaxation enhancement.

Conclusions:

DNA aptamer-gadolinium conjugates are promising MRI contrast agents.
These agents demonstrate target-specific relaxivity enhancement.
Further development could lead to improved diagnostic imaging capabilities.