New paramagnetic supramolecular adducts for MRI applications based on non-covalent interactions between Gd(III)-complexes and β- or γ-cyclodextrin units anchored to chitosan

Gd(III) complexes are used as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents because they greatly enhance the relaxation rate of water protons of tissues in which they distribute, an effect that is much more marked if the paramagnetic complex is part of a macromolecular system. Furthermore applications in molecular imaging, require that as many units of contrast agent as possible be directed to the site of interest. To this end we synthesised a polymer made of chitosan functionalized with β- and γ-cyclodextrins (CDs) that is able to form high-affinity adducts with suitably functionalized Gd(III) complexes. β- and γ-CDs were first treated with maleic anhydride to afford 6-monosubstituted derivatives that reacted regioselectively with the amino groups of chitosan. Reaction times and yields were markedly improved by carrying out these reactions under high-intensity ultrasound or microwave irradiation. Compared to the CD monomers, β- and γ-CD-chitosan adducts show large increases both in terms of their binding affinity towards Gd(III) complexes and in relaxivity values and they appear promising carriers for the in vivo vehiculation of Gd(III) complexes.