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Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Preparation and In Vitro Characterization of Dendrimer-based Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: December 4, 2016
Stability evaluation of Gd chelates for macromolecular MRI contrast agents
Masayuki Yokoyama1, Kouichi Shiraishi2
1Division of Medical Engineering, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 163-1, Kashiwashita, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba, 277-8567, Japan. masajun2093ryo@jikei.ac.jp.
Objective:
We try to establish designs for the macromolecular agents possessing high Gd3+-chelating stability, because free Gd3+ ion released from Gd chelates is known as a risk factor to cause toxic side effects and a safety concern.
Materials And Methods:
We prepared three types of Gd-based macromolecular MRI contrast agents from a synthetic polymer (poly(glutamic acid) homopolymer or poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lysine) block copolymer) and a chelating moiety (DO3A or DOTA) having two strategic designs for high chelate stability. Then, we examine the in vitro Gd3+-chelate stability of these macromolecular MRI contrast agents.
Results:
The prepared macromolecular agents exhibited the same or higher Gd3+-chelate stability as/than did Gd-DOTA that possesses the highest Gd3+-chelate stability among the approved small-MW Gd-chelate MRI contrast agent.
Discussion:
Our macromolecular design was considered to work well for high Gd3+-chelate stability.
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