Multimeric Gd-Based Contrast Agents for High Field MR-Imaging

Lorenzo Tei¹, Giuseppe Gugliotta¹, Mauro Botta¹

New T₁ agents that would take advantage of current 1.5 3 T scanners showing excellent relaxation properties over a broad range of imaging field strengths are object of intense research. Multimeric Gd^III agents with medium molecular weight (~3-4 KDa) exhibit improved relaxivity values also at high fields. Gd^III di-, tri-, tetra-, hexa- and octameric complexes based on stable and efficient Gd-AAZTA derivatives were synthesised. ¹H relaxivity data as a function of magnetic field strength and temperature as well as T₁-weighted phantom MR-images at different fields were acquired. These multimeric Gd^III contrast agents exhibit improved efficiency for application in both clinical MRI and Molecular Imaging protocols.