Robert Ta1,2, Alex Li1, Mojmir Suchy,
1,3, Robert Hudson3, Stephen Pasternak4,5, Robert
Bartha1,2
1Imaging Research Group, Robarts
Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; 2Medical Biophysics,
University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; 3Chemistry,
University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; 4Molecular
Brain Research Group, Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; 5Clinical
Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
A
novel dual magnetic resonance/fluorescent probe has been designed for
molecular targeting of Cathepsin D in Alzheimer's disease. The MRI contrast of this probe has been
detected using the on-resonance paramagnetic agent chemical exchange effect (OPARACHEE) method. Greater than a 1% OPARACHEE contrast was
observed in 1.5 mM Tm3+-DOTA-Glycine in a 5% BSA phantom. The dual probe demonstrated uptake into
neuronal cells by confocal microscopy and had no toxic effects on these cells
at the concentrations tested.
Keywords