A cyclic peptide specific for type I collagen is derivatized with three {Gd(dtpa)} moieties to create a molecular MRI contrast agent for fibrosis imaging. In a mouse model of myocardial infarction (heart attack), collagen levels are elevated in the infarct zone. MRI after injection of the contrast agent selectively enhances and delineates the infarct zone (see preinjection and postinjection images); dtpa=diethylenetriaminepentaacetate.

Ein cyclisches Peptid, das spezifisch für Typ‐I‐Collagen ist, wurde mit drei {Gd(dtpa)}‐Einheiten derivatisiert, um ein molekulares Kontrastmittel für die Kernspintomographie zur Erkennung von Fibrosen zu erzeugen. In einem Mausmodell zum Myokardinfarkt sind die Collagenkonzentrationen in der Infarktzone erhöht. Nach der Injektion des Kontrastmittels ist die Infarktzone deutlicher zu erkennen (siehe Kernspintomogramme); dtpa=Diethylentriaminpentaacetat.

A strategy for preparing peptide-based magnetic resonance contrast agents with multiple gadolinium chelates is described.

Actin is a biological protein that provides support to the cellular structure and plays a crucial role in cytoskeletal and intra-cellular signalling events. Logic circuits can be designed with actin filaments with the help of actin quantum automata. The authors use a rule (4,27) to implement some novel designs of logic subtractor circuits on this automata to achieve the difference in two binary bits. Logic design of both half and full binary subtractors is proposed in this study. Actin-based quantum cellular automata can be used in different combinations of input to get optimised results from the circuits. The authors focus on consolidating the designs inside single automata block to generate output in a less number of timesteps and less overheads. The designs are simulated with Simulink and this way output is verified for these different design approaches. Reliability and fault-tolerance check is another interesting part of this study. To get a better idea of the optimisation achieved, the authors have also presented a comparative study between the proposed designs in terms of circuit size and efficiency. With all these parameters involved, this study explores opportunities for future implementation of unconventional computing in nano-scale and cost-effective bio-molecular networks.

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