Abstract #0482

Gadolinium-Based "Smart" MRI Probes for Enzyme-Targeted Cancer Imaging

Prachi Pandit¹, Deju Ye¹, John Ronald¹, Jianghong Rao¹,², Brian Rutt¹

¹Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; ²Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States

Recently, significant efforts are being devoted to the development of smart magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. A common strategy involves a T1 relaxivity change in response to the presence of a target. Our group has devised a novel platform for the development of smart probes based on biocompatible chemical reactions where Gd-containing molecules, under the control of disulfide reduction and/or enzymatic cleavage, get activated to form magnetic nanoparticles and thus provide enhanced relaxivity. We have assessed the MR properties of these smart probes in solution and in cellulo in breast cancer cells.