Functional MRI for Brain Imaging: Design and synthesis of DOTA-based Gd contrast agents for tracking neurotransmitter

• Applicant: Dr. Jessica Wahsner
• Subject Area: Biological and Biomimetic Chemistry ; Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2016 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 320225462

• Final Report Year: 2019

Final Report Abstract

In summary, we described the first small molecule PET probe that is able to detect and stage pulmonary fibrogenesis. 68-Ga-NODAGA-indole specifically binds to allysine in fibrotic lungs resulting in a 7-fold higher lung uptake in a disease model of pulmonary fibrosis in comparison to control groups. The uptake of 68-Ga-NODAGA-indole in lung tissue correlates strongly with the extent of actively progressive pulmonary fibrosis and provides a quantitative noninvasive measure of active disease. This molecular imaging ability of 68-Ga-NODAGA-indole makes it a promising candidate for monitoring disease progression and therapeutic response, and ultimately advancing drug development.

Publications

• Chemistry of MRI Contrast Agents: Current Challenges and New Frontiers. Chem. Rev.
  Wahsner, J.; Gale, E. M.; Rodríguez-Rodríguez, A.; Caravan, P.
  (See online at https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00363)
• 68Ga-NODAGA-indole, an allysine-reactive PET probe for molecular imaging of actively progressive pulmonary fibrogenesis. J. Nucl. Med. 2018, 59, 260
  Wahsner, J.; Désogère, P.; Wang, J.; Rotile, N.; Erstad, D.; Fuchs, B.; Lanuti, M.; Caravan, P.