Scientists from the Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry (NIOCh) SB RAS together with colleagues from the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine (ICBFM) SB RAS have created contrast reagents for MRI diagnostics that are not toxic to the human body.
Sergei Dobrynin, a research fellow at NIOCH, said that the development was carried out thanks to innovative methods for the synthesis of nitroxyl radicals used at the institute.
“They have allowed the creation of completely organic contrast reagents that can work on the same principle as conventional contrast reagents, but they do not contain heavy metal ions, and therefore are not toxic,” – said the researcher.
At the moment, most reagents contain toxic metals, in particular gadolinium, which threatens human life. The NIOCh developed reagents based on the magnetic effects of molecules, consisting of nitroxyl radicals and the main protein of blood plasma. It is also allowed to use the plasma protein of a person undergoing an MRI, which will ensure minimal rejection of the drug.
Scientists are currently testing the prototype reagents on mice.
“Our contrast reagents are stable in the body and allow, by varying the structure of the reagent, to achieve the desired properties: lowering toxicity or creating targeting groups that will help them accumulate in tumors,” Dobrynin said, noting that this is important for diagnosis, but these principles can be applied for selective drug delivery.
.