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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Preparation, Purification, and Characterization of Lanthanide Complexes for Use as Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Preparation, Purification, and Characterization of Lanthanide Complexes for Use as Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: July 21, 2011

APTRA-Based Luminescent Lanthanide Complexes Displaying Enhanced Selectivity for Mg².

Edward R H Walter¹, J A Gareth Williams¹, David Parker¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.

Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)

|March 14, 2018

Summary

New europium(III) complexes with APTRA (o-aminophenol-N,N,N-triacetate) show high affinity and selectivity for magnesium ions. This enables direct measurement of magnesium concentrations in serum for the first time.

Keywords:

europium luminescence magnesium sensing terbium

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Area of Science:

Coordination Chemistry
Luminescent Materials
Analytical Chemistry

Background:

Europium(III) complexes are valuable for luminescence applications.
Developing selective sensors for biologically relevant metal ions remains a challenge.
APTRA (o-aminophenol-N,N,N-triacetate) is a versatile chelating moiety.

Purpose of the Study:

To synthesize and characterize novel europium(III) complexes incorporating an APTRA moiety.
To investigate the metal-binding affinities and selectivities of these complexes for Mg2+, Ca2+, and Zn2+.
To evaluate the potential of these complexes as sensors for magnesium ions in biological matrices.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of three europium(III) complexes (EuL1, EuL2, EuL3) with varying APTRA linkage.
Metal binding affinity measurements using emission and excitation spectroscopy.
Spectroscopic analysis of metal ion interactions in serum background.

Main Results:

EuL1 and EuL2, featuring a pyridylalkynylaryl structure, exhibit superior affinity and selectivity for Mg2+.
The Mg2+ affinities differ significantly from related systems with organic fluorophores.
Reduced affinity for Ca2+ and Zn2+ is observed, attributed to extended conjugation effects.
An apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of 2.4 mM for Mg2+ binding in serum was determined.

Conclusions:

The novel europium(III)-APTRA complexes demonstrate excellent selectivity for magnesium ions.
These complexes facilitate the direct and accurate measurement of magnesium concentrations in serum.
This represents a significant advancement for magnesium ion sensing in biological samples.