Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 10, 2026
06:54
MR Molecular Imaging of Prostate Cancer with a Small Molecular CLT1 Peptide Targeted Contrast Agent
Published on: September 3, 2013
11.8K
A Novel Copolymer-Based Functional SPECT/MR Imaging Agent for Asialoglycoprotein Receptor Targeting
Pu Zhang1,2, Zhide Guo1, Deliang Zhang1
1Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Molecular Imaging
|December 13, 2016
Summary
Researchers developed a novel dual-modality imaging agent for SPECT/MR scans. This copolymer targets the ASGPR receptor and can be labeled with technetium-99m and gadolinium, showing promise for liver imaging.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Radiochemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Dual-modality imaging agents offer enhanced diagnostic capabilities by combining information from different imaging techniques.
- Targeted imaging agents improve diagnostic accuracy by concentrating on specific biological markers or receptors.
- Asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) is a key target for liver-specific imaging due to its high expression on hepatocytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel copolymer-based dual-modality (SPECT/MR) imaging agent.
- To enable simultaneous labeling with technetium-99m (99mTc) for SPECT and gadolinium (Gd) for MR imaging.
- To achieve ASGPR targeting via galactose for enhanced liver imaging.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of three distinct monomers: VNI for 99mTc labeling, V2DTPA for Gd labeling, and VLA for ASGPR targeting.
- Copolymerization of VLA, VNI, and V2DTPA to form the pVLND2 agent.
- Characterization of the copolymer using gel permeation chromatography, dynamic light scattering, and HPLC.
- Simultaneous radiolabeling with 99mTc and Gd, followed by evaluation of radiochemical purity, toxicity, relaxivity (r1), and in vivo SPECT/MR imaging in mice.
Main Results:
- The synthesized copolymer pVLND2 was successfully characterized.
- The agent demonstrated effective simultaneous labeling with both 99mTc and Gd.
- In vivo studies in mice showed successful ASGPR targeting and good SPECT/MR imaging performance.
- A significant improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio was observed in the liver during MR imaging.
Conclusions:
- The developed copolymer pVLND2 shows significant potential as a functional dual-modality SPECT/MR imaging agent.
- Its ability to target ASGPR and be labeled with both 99mTc and Gd makes it a promising candidate for liver imaging applications.
- Further development of this novel copolymer could lead to advanced diagnostic tools for liver diseases.
Keywords:
SPECT/MR imaging agentcopolymerdual modalityhepatic asialoglycoprotein receptormolecular imaging
