Diaferia Carlo, Gianolio Eliana, Accardo Antonella
Department of Pharmacy, Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPeB), University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Department of Molecular Biotechnologies and Health Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
J Pept Sci. 2019 May;25(5):e3157. doi: 10.1002/psc.3157. Epub 2019 Feb 15.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most important clinic diagnostic tool used to obtain high-quality body images. The administration of low-molecular-weight Gd complex-based MRI contrast agents (CAs) permits to increase the H relaxation rate of nearby water molecules, thus modulating signal intensity and contrast enhancement. Even if highly accurate, MRI modality suffers from its low sensitivity. Moreover, low-molecular-weight CAs rapidly equilibrate between the intravascular and extravascular spaces after their administration. In order to improve their sensitivity and limit the extravasation phenomenon, several macromolecular and supramolecular multimeric gadolinium complexes (dendrimers, polymers, carbon nanostructures, micelles, and liposomes) have been designed until now. Because of their biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, low cost, and easy synthetic modification, peptides are attractive building blocks for the fabbrication of novel materials for biomedical applications. We report on the state of the art of supramolecular CAs obtained by self-assembly of three different classes of building blocks containing a peptide sequence, a gadolinium complex, and, if necessary, a third functional portion achieving the organization process.
磁共振成像（MRI）是用于获取高质量人体图像的最重要的临床诊断工具之一。给予基于低分子量钆配合物的MRI造影剂（CAs）能够提高附近水分子的氢弛豫率，从而调节信号强度和对比度增强。即使MRI模态非常精确，但其灵敏度较低。此外，低分子量CAs给药后会在血管内和血管外间隙迅速达到平衡。为了提高其灵敏度并限制外渗现象，到目前为止已经设计了几种大分子和超分子多聚钆配合物（树枝状大分子、聚合物、碳纳米结构、胶束和脂质体）。由于其生物相容性、低免疫原性、低成本和易于合成修饰，肽是用于制造生物医学应用新型材料的有吸引力的构建块。我们报告了通过三类不同构建块自组装获得的超分子CAs的研究现状，这些构建块包含肽序列、钆配合物，以及必要时实现组织过程的第三功能部分。
