University of Massachusetts:

Molecular sensing research

Sensing probes are chemical compounds that respond to the presence of a given molecule with a specific change of relaxation properties. The molecules of interest include enzymes and various low-molecular weight analytes.

 Using sensing probes the laboratory is actively developing novel strategies of enzyme-mediated magnetic resonance imaging signal amplification (MRamp). This strategy is based on the effect of on-site polymerization of paramagnetic substrates and their retention at the disease site. We previously developed macrocyclic and open-chelate types of oxidoreductase-specific paramagnetic substrates. One of the substrates, di-5-hydroxytryptamide of DTPA(Gd), di-5-HT-DTPAGd, is now available for investigational research on a multigram scale.

The use of “enzyme sensing” MR contrast agents is expected to have a broad utility in high throughput screening as well as for in vivo detection of antigen expression patterns (Funded by NIBIB RO1 grant).

Our laboratory is focusing on two major applications:

1. Imaging of cancer-specific molecules.

2. Detection of endogenous and exogenous oxidoreductases (e.g. myeloperoxidase) in cardiovascular disease and cancer.

 

Collaborators:

Dr. John W. Chen, Massachusetts General Hospital

Dr. Ajay Wakhloo, UMASS

Dr. Matt Gounis, UMASS

Dr. Chris Sotak, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Dr. Jeff Tsao, Novartis Research Institute

 

 

Recent Publications:

Querol M, Bennett DG, Sotak C, Kang, HW, Bogdanov A Jr. A Paramagnetic Contrast Agent for Detecting Tyrosinase Activity. Chembiochem 2007 8: 1637-41.

Chen JW, Querol Sans M, Bogdanov, A Jr, Weissleder R. Imaging inflammation: a multimodality molecular imaging approach targeting myeloperoxidase. Radiology 2006, 240:473-481.

Querol M, Chen JW, Bogdanov A Jr. A paramagnetic contrast agent with myeloperoxidase-sensing properties Org Biomol Chem, 2006, 4:1887-1895.

IMG0876

Dr. Manuel Querol

Sensing

MRI (left) and SPECT images (righ) obtained by using myeloperoxidase substrates.

Formula

Royal Society of ChemsitryŠ

tumor

MR Imaging of L6-positive tumor after injection of peroxidase-sensing contrast agent. L6 was targeted using antibody-enzyme conjugates.

Interantional Society of Magnetic Resonance in MedicineŠ