Towards Enhanced MRI Performance of Tumor-Specific Dimeric Phenylboronic Contrast Agents

It is known that phenylboronic acid (PBA) can target tumor tissues by binding to sialic acid, a substrate overexpressed by cancer cells. This capability has previously been explored in the design of targeting diagnostic probes such as Gd- and ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-EN-PBA, two contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), respectively, whose potential has already been demonstrated through in vivo experiments. In addition to its high resolution, the intrinsic low sensitivity of MRI stimulates the search for more effective contrast agents, which, in the case of small-molecular probes, basically narrows down to either increased tumbling time of the entire molecule or elevated local concentration of the paramagnetic ions, both strategies resulting in enhanced relaxivity, and consequently, a higher MRI contrast. The latter strategy can be achieved by the design of multimeric Gd^III complexes. Based on the monomeric PBA-containing probes described recently, herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of the dimeric analogues (Gd^III-DOTA-EN)₂-PBA and (Gd^III-DOTA-EN)₂F₂PBA. The presence of two Gd ions in one molecule clearly contributes to the improved biological performance, as demonstrated by the relaxometric study and cell-binding investigations.     

Mesoporous Zirconium Phenylenesiliconate‐phosphonate Hybrids with Ordered Lamellar Nanostructures

Novel ordered lamellar mesostructure pZrPS‐2 was hydrothermally prepared by using zirconium propoxide and 4‐(EtO)₂OPC₆H₄Si(OEt)₃ (pPPS‐E), which was hydrolyzed to organic building units substituted with both siliconate and phosphonate groups, in the presence of C_nTAB and TMAOH. The pZrPS‐2 materials were obtained at a Zr/PPS ratio of 2 or higher and the basal spacing was increased by using a longer‐chain surfactant (n=12–18). Removal of the occluded surfactants at 300 °C resulted in retention of the lamellar structure with negligible shrinkage of the interlayer distance. Nitrogen adsorption studies revealed the ordered mesoporous nature of pZrPS‐2 with a pore diameter of approximately 2 to 3 nm. The lamellar structure is assumed to be composed of layers that include zirconia‐based crystalline nanodomains and interlayer pillars mainly based on PPS units. Although lamellar structures with the same crystalline phase also formed when no surfactant was added or when the meta isomer of PPS was used, no mesoporous materials were obtained except pZrPS‐2. A possible schematic model to elucidate these results is also proposed.     

Synthesis of 6-substituted 6-nitroperhydro-1,4-diazepines via novel tandem retro-Henry and Mannich/Michael reactions

N,N'-Dibenzyl-6-hydroxymethyl-6-nitroperhydro-1,4-diazepine was converted into a nitronate via retro-Henry reaction, followed by either Michael reaction with several acrylic derivatives or Mannich reaction with different amines, thus leading to 6-substituted 6-nitroperhydro-1,4-diazepines. The tandem retro-Henry/Mannich reaction was also carried out using benzylamine as base, solvent, and reagent at the same time. Selective hydrogenation of the nitro group and complete hydrogenolysis were also successfully achieved.     

Synthesis and Relaxometric Properties of Gadolinium(III) Complexes of New Triazine‐Based Polydentate Ligands

Two new derivatives based on an s‐triazine structural motif were synthesized by attaching two 2,2′‐hydrazinylidenebis[acetic acid] moieties to the triazine ring to reach an overall heptadenticity for the complexation of lanthanide(III) cations. The remaining reactive site was exploited for the substitution with a functionizable amino group (see H₄ L1 ) and a lipophilic moiety (see H₄ L2 ). Luminescence‐lifetime determinations revealed the presence of a single H₂O molecule coordinated for [Eu( L1 )]. A complete ¹H‐NMR relaxometric study was carried out for the octacoordinated [Gd( L1 )] and [Gd( L2 )] complexes. A remarkably long H₂O residence lifetime (²⁹⁸τ_M =5.2 μs) was found by ¹⁷O‐NMR in the case of [Gd( L1 )]. Micelle formation of the lipophilic complex [Gd( L2 )] was evidenced, the critical micellization concentration (cmc) determined, and relaxometric properties of the system investigated.     

Linearly polarized 100-kW-Peak-power pulsed fiber laser with a novel master oscillator

We report progress in the design and fabrication of a monolithic, linearly polarized, pulsed, Yb-doped fiber laser. This laser has a peak power of more than 100 kW, a tunable repetition rate from 100 kHz to 1 MHz, a tunable pulse duration from 2 ns to 2.5 μs, and a diffraction-limited, linearly polarized output beam with a mean power of 21 W and a wavelength of 1064 nm. A seed source that consists of a microchip Nd:YVO₄ laser and an electro optic deflector is developed. Using this source, the repetition rate and pulse duration are varied independently of each other. In addition, an excellent pulse-to-pulse repeatability is achieved.     

Fluorometric chemosensors. Interaction of toxic heavy metal ions Pb(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) with novel mixed-donor phenanthroline-containing macrocycles: spectrofluorometric,conductometric, and crystallographic studies

The macrocycles L(1)-L(3) incorporating N(2)S(3)-, N(2)S(2)O-, and N(2)S(2)-donor sets, respectively, and containing the 1,10-phenanthroline unit interact in acetonitrile solution with heavy metal ions such as Pb(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) to give 1:1 ML, 1:2 ML(2), and 2:1 M(2)L complex species, which specifically modulate the photochemical properties of the ligands. The stoichiometry of the complex species formed during spectrofluorometric titrations and their formation constants in MeCN at 25 degrees C were determined from fluorescence vs M(II)/L molar ratio data. The complexes [Pb(L(1))][ClO(4)](2).(1)/(2)H(2)O (1), [Pb(L(2))][ClO(4)](2).MeNO(2) (1a), [Pb(L(3))(2)][ClO(4)](2).2MeCN (1b), and [Cd(L(3))][NO(3)](2) (2b) were also characterized by X-ray diffraction studies. The conformation adopted by L(1)-L(3) in these species reveals the aliphatic portion of the rings folded over the plane containing the heteroaromatic moiety with the ligands trying to encapsulate the metal center within their cavity. In 1, 1a, and 2b the metal ion completes the coordination sphere by interacting with counteranion units and solvent molecules. On the contrary, the 1:2 complex 1b shows Pb(II) sandwiched between two symmetry-related molecules of L(3) reaching an overall [4N + 4S] eight-coordination.     

Rigid and Compact Binuclear Bis-hydrated Gd-complexes as High Relaxivity MRI Agents

The first binuclear Gd-complex of the 12-membered pyridine-based polyaminocarboxylate macrocyclic ligand PCTA was synthesized by C−C connection of the pyridine units through two different synthetic procedures. A dimeric AAZTA-ligand was also synthesized with the aim to compare the relaxometric results or the two ditopic Gd-complexes. Thus, the ¹H relaxometric study on [Gd₂PCTA₂(H₂O)₄] and on [Gd₂AAZTA₂(H₂O)₄]²⁻ highlighted the remarkable rigidity and compactness of the two binuclear complexes, which results in molar relaxivities (per Gd), at 1.5 T and 298 K of ca. 12–12.6 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹ with an increase of ca. 80 % at 1.5 T and 298 K (+70 % at 310 K) with respect to the corresponding mononuclear complexes.     

One-pot synthesis of a piperidine-based rigidified DTPA analogue and its bifunctional chelating agent

The core structure of cis-3,5-diaminopiperidine was N-alkylated with excess t-butylbromoacetate in order to exploit the successive N-quaternarization and Stevens rearrangement to access the pentaalkylated product and the bifunctional chelating agent containing a N-butanedioic acid pendant arm at the same time. The relaxometric properties of the Gd(III) complexes with these ligands were studied also in terms of pH and serum stabilities.     

Selective Anchoring of GdIII Chelates on the External Surface of Organo‐Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: A New Chemical Strategy To Enhance Relaxivity

The optimization of the physico‐chemical properties of both Gd^III chelates and nanocarriers is of great importance for the development of effective nanosystems for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. With this aim, macrocyclic Gd^III chelates were selectively attached to the pendant amino groups exposed to the external surface of spheroidal mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). This was achieved by treating the metal complexes with MSNs that contained the templating surfactant molecules confined within the silica channels (hexadecyltrimethylammonium (CTA)/MSN), followed by extraction of the surfactant. The nanoparticles showed greatly improved ¹H relaxometric efficiency relative to corresponding systems that also feature Gd^III chelates conjugated inside the pores. A further significant relaxivity enhancement was observed after chemical transformation of the free amino groups into amides. The ionic relaxivity of the final nanoparticles (r_1p=79.1 mM ^?1 s^?1; 0.5 T, 310 K) is one of the highest reported so far.