De Novo Designed Imaging Agents Based on Lanthanide Peptides Complexes

Herein are discussed a selection of lanthanide peptide/protein complexes in view of their potential applications as imaging agents, both in terms of luminescence detection and magnetic resonance imaging. Though this chapter covers a range of different peptides and protein, if focuses specifically on the opportunities afforded by the de novo design of coiled coils, miniature protein scaffolds, and the development on lanthanide-binding sites into these architectures. The requirements for lanthanide coordination and the challenges that need to be addressed when preparing lanthanide peptides with a view to their potential adoption as clinical imaging applications, will be highlighted.