Fluorinated Human Serum Albumin as Potential 19F Magnetic Resonance Imaging Probe

Abstract

Fluorinated human serum albumin conjugates were prepared and tested as potential metal-free probes for 19F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each protein molecule was modified by several fluorine-containing compounds via the N-substituted natural acylating reagent homocysteine thiolactone. Albumin conjugates retain the protein’s physical and biological properties, such as its 3D dimensional structure, aggregation ability, good solubility, proteolysis efficiency, biocompatibility, and low cytotoxicity. A dual-labeled with cyanine 7 fluorescence dye and fluorine reporter group albumin were synthesized for simultaneous fluorescence imaging and 19F MRI. The preliminary in vitro studies show the prospects of albumin carriers for multimodal imaging.

Contrast Agents Based on Human Serum Albumin and Nitroxides for 1H-MRI and Overhauser-Enhanced MRI

“…As shown in Figure 9, none of the HSA-NIT exhibits any strong inhibition of proteolysis when exposed to trypsin, compared to native HSA. HSA-NIT conjugates faster than native HSA digested to 15-55 kDa fragments, which correlates with previously published data on N-homocysteinylated HSA conjugates [111]. HSA-NIT was specifically sequentially degraded first to a fragment with an MW of ~55 kDa with greater efficiency than subsequent degradation to smaller fragments with MWs from 45 to 15 kDa.…”

A polymeric 1H/19F dual-modal MRI contrast agent with a snowman-like Janus nanostructure

“…Accordingly, species carrying fluorine tags hold potential as 19 F MRI contrast agents. 19 F MRI contrast agents are materials, including small molecules (perfluorocarbons, 9 water-soluble fluorinated ion liquids, 10 and fluorine modified drugs 11,12 ), polymers (linear block copolymers 13 and branched polymers, 14 peptides 15 and proteins 16 ), MOFs 17 and nanoparticles (hydrogel nanoparticles, 18 fluorine tag coated gold nanoparticles, 19 mesoporous silica-coated nanoparticles 20 and other nanoparticles), which bear fluorine atoms. The unique chemical shift capabilities (0-250 ppm) enable differentiation of multiple fluorinecontaining compounds, 21 facilitating multiplexed imaging with concurrent visualization of distinct agents within the same scan.…”