Researchers from the University of Birmingham in the U.K. have developed a new set of MRI contrast agents, according to a study published on 5 November in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
The agents are based on metallo-coiled coils, which are 3D ligands designed to bind gadolinium. Although they show promise for MR imaging, their use has been limited by poor stability, the university noted in a statement.
A team led by Prof. Anna Peacock, PhD, collaborated with scientists from the University of Bristol and Università del Piemonte Orientale in Italy and found that "the cross-linked agent demonstrated a 30% increase in MRI relaxivity compared to its non-cross-linked counterpart," and showed "unprecedented enhancement in chemical and biological stability."
University of Birmingham Enterprise has filed a patent application for the novel metallo coiled-coil approach, and the researchers are seeking licensing or development partners, the university said.
