Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is at the forefront of clinical imaging. Paramagnetic relaxers (Gd3+ and Mn2+ chelates, iron oxide nanoparticles) shorten the relaxation times (T1,2) i.e. enhance the relaxation rates (R1,2= 1/T1,2) of the water protons in their vicinity yielding significant contrast enhancements-contrast agents. Supramolecular (self-assembled) hydrogels based on low molecular weight peptides are the new paradigm biomaterials: porous soft biocompatible materials made of highly hydrated fibrous 3D nanostructures, reminiscent of the extracellular matrix. Our research group developed self-assembled hydrogels based on dehydrodipeptides N-capped with naproxen (Npx, a NSAID drug). Dehydropeptide-based hydrogels exhibit resistance to proteolysis, are biocompatible and suitable nanocarriers for delivery of incorporated drugs. Recently, we demonstrated that incorporation of SPION endows dehydropeptide-based hydrogels with magnetic properties (magnetogels): hyperthermia and MRI reporting properties. In this communication we report novel supramolecular hydrogels prepared by co-assembly of dehydropeptides and Gd3+ chelates. The hydrogels are characterised regarding co-assembly (fluorescence, CD spectroscopy) and micro- nano-structure (STEM) and rehologial properties. The co-assembled hydrogels are characterized also as Contrast Agents for MRI by 1H relaxometry (60 MHz, 37ºC) and MRI (120 MHz, 37 ºC).
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Dehydropeptide-based self-assembled hydrogels with incorporated Gd3+ chelates: potential Contrast Agents for MRI?
Published:
12 November 2020
by MDPI
in 2nd International Online-Conference on Nanomaterials
session Poster
Abstract:
Keywords: hydrogels; dehydropeptides; supramolecular; gadolinium; self-assembled; MRI.
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