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Rhodium nanocatalysts and hyperpolarization - synthesis and production of biomedical contrast agents

Subject Area Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
Term from 2019 to 2023
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 426677227
 
Final Report Year 2024

Final Report Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an intrinsically insensitive phenomenon. Hyperpolarization methods have been developed to amplify signals by several orders of magnitude. One of these is based on para-hydrogen, which is a spin isomer of hydrogen gas. This can be used to carry out hydrogenations in solvents using a catalyst. Over the past few years, the use of para-hydrogen for signal amplification of metabolites has moved into the focus, as it promises to be used as a contrast agent for biomedical imaging. The advantage of this method is that it can increase the signal of metabolic products in just a few seconds. In the course of the project, possibilities should be investigated to produce nanocatalysts with which metabolites can be efficiently hyperpolarized and which can be made easily separable so that a purified solution can be obtained to carry out metabolic studies. Ligands, forms and immobilization strategies were to be analyzed. At the beginning of the project, deuterated ligands were produced that showed positive effects on polarization. However, as it was difficult to polarize concentrations larger than the single-digit millimolar range, alternative separation methods for homogeneous catalysts were investigated. In the course of this, a process was developed in which catalysts can be precipitated and filtered off and injection solutions with only micromolar metal concentrations are obtained that show more than 95% cell viability. This was then used to carry out cell studies, in particular to investigate pyruvatelactate metabolism. Finally, we were able to record the first successful tumor images with para-hydrogen-generated metabolites due to the developed purification process.

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