Controlled intracellular self-assembly of gadolinium nanoparticles as smart molecular MR contrast agents was written by Cao, Chun-Yan;Shen, Ying-Ying;Wang, Jian-Dong;Li, Li;Liang, Gao-Lin. And the article was included in Scientific Reports in 2013.Electric Literature of C19H30N4O5S This article mentions the following:
Herein we developed a new “smart” Gd-based MR contrast agent (i.e., 1) which is susceptive to furin, a protease overexpressed in tumor. Under the action of furin, 1 condenses to form dimers (1-Ds) and the latter self-assemble into gadolinium nanparticles (Gd-NPs). Relaxivity of 1-D is more than 2 folds of those of 1 and magnevist at 1.5 T, and 1.4 folds of that of 1 at 3 T. Intracellular condensation of 1 in furin-overexpressed MDA-MB-468 cells was proven with direct two-photon laser microscopy (TPLM) fluorescence imaging of the cells incubated with the europium analog of 1 (i.e., 2). Intracellular Gd-NPs of 1 were uncovered and characterized for the first time. MRI of MDA-MB-468 tumors showed that 1 has enhanced MR contrast within the tumors than that of its scrambled control 1-Scr. In the experiment, the researchers used many compounds, for example, H-Arg(Pbf)-OH (cas: 200115-86-2Electric Literature of C19H30N4O5S).
H-Arg(Pbf)-OH (cas: 200115-86-2) belongs to benzofurans derivatives. Benzofurans are compounds with a planar structure having 10 pi electrons that include the lone pair on oxygen atom, which makes it more susceptible to electrophilic attack. In nature, benzofurans have occupied an important role among the plant phenols & several pharmacologically active compounds.Electric Literature of C19H30N4O5S
Referemce:
Benzofuran – Wikipedia,
Benzofuran | C8H6O – PubChem