Emily Alexandria Waters1, Ellen Kretzschmar
Kohlmeir2, Daniel J. Mastarone1, Ling-Jia Wang3,
Dixon Blake Kaufman3, Thomas J. Meade1,2
1Chemistry, Northwestern University,
Evanston, IL, United States; 2Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and
Cellular Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States; 3Surgery,
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United
States
Pancreatic
islet transplant is a promising treatment for diabetes, but little is known
about the fate of islets after transplant.
We have developed a multimeric MR contrast agent with three
macrocyclic Gd(III) chelates attached to a scaffold, with a branched alkyne
chain installed to anchor the agent in cellular membranes. This agent effectively labels islets in a
time- and concentration-dependent fashion.
Islets can be detected with MRI after a 4h incubation with 30 μM
agent. Minimal leaching occurs over a
24h period after incubation. Labeling
of islets does not affect cell viability or alter islet morphology.
Keywords