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Evaluation of a nitroxyl fatty acid as liver contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging
Author(s) -
Gallez Bernard,
Debuyst René,
Demeure Roger,
Dejehet Fernand,
Grandin Cécile,
Van Beers Bernard,
Taper Henryk,
Pringot Jacques,
Dumont Pierre
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.1910300510
Subject(s) - nitroxyl , chemistry , fatty acid , transporter , albumin , moiety , oleic acid , transmembrane protein , mri contrast agent , biochemistry , stereochemistry , receptor , organic chemistry , gene , gadolinium
In this study, we report the synthesis and the evaluation as MRI contrast agent of a new compound (nitroxyl fatty acid, NFA), where a pyrrolidinoxyl radical (3‐carboxy‐proxyl, PCA) is linked to a fatty acid moiety. Fatty acids were selected as vector because they present a high affinity for the liver, their efficient cellular uptake being the result of a specific interaction with a transmembrane transporter (liver plasma membrane‐fatty acid binding protein). The uptake of 3 H‐oleic acid is inhibited after the injection of 1 mmol/kg of NFA, suggesting that INFA recognizes the same transmembrane transporter as the natural fatty acids. The higher relaxivity R 1 of NFA in albumin solutions, compared with PCA, was explained by the immobilization of the nitroxyl radical in the protein. MR imaging was performed using T 1 ‐weighted images on mice in order to compare the contrast effect obtained after the injection of 1 mmol/kg of radical. The % signal enhancement in the liver 5 min after intravenous injection was 49 ± 4 and 14 ± 5 for NFA and PCA, respectively. NFA allowed a better delimitation of some necrotic tumors (Novikoff hepatocarcinoma) due to its preferential uptake by the nontumorous tissue.