COLL 215 |
| Endohedral metallofullerenes encapsulating Gd are a promising new class of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancing agents. They offer a safe contrast agent platform lacking the potential for free Gd3+ toxicity due to the very high stability of endohedral Gd sequestration, which is not compromised under physiological conditions. We have developed means to produce, separate and derivatize Gd@C60 molecules for contrast agent applications. Gd@C60 materials water-solubilized with carboxylate and hydroxyl functionalities are effective T1 MR imaging agents with r1 relaxivities higher than current clinically used Gd chelate agents. Using a combination of techniques, including light-scattering, cryo-TEM and NMRD analyses, we have characterized the Gd@C60 derivatives' intermolecular aggregation properties in correlation with their aqueous relaxivity properties. An overview of our ongoing studies of these interesting materials will be presented. |
|
Advances in Nanomedicine
1:30 PM-5:20 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Sir Francis Drake -- Monterey/Cypress Rooms, Oral
Division of Colloid & Surface Chemistry |