Photoswitchable Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast by Improved Light-Driven Coordination-Induced Spin State Switch

J Am Chem Soc. 2015 Jun 24;137(24):7552-5. doi: 10.1021/jacs.5b00929. Epub 2015 May 5.

Abstract

We present a fully reversible and highly efficient on-off photoswitching of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast with green (500 nm) and violet-blue (435 nm) light. The contrast change is based on intramolecular light-driven coordination-induced spin state switch (LD-CISSS), performed with azopyridine-substituted Ni-porphyrins. The relaxation time of the solvent protons in 3 mM solutions of the azoporphyrins in DMSO was switched between 3.5 and 1.7 s. The relaxivity of the contrast agent changes by a factor of 6.7. No fatigue or side reaction was observed, even after >100,000 switching cycles in air at room temperature. Electron-donating substituents at the pyridine improve the LD-CISSS in two ways: better photostationary states are achieved, and intramolecular binding is enhanced.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Contrast Media / chemistry*
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide / chemistry
  • Electrons
  • Light
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Metalloporphyrins / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nickel / chemistry*
  • Pyridines / chemistry*

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Metalloporphyrins
  • Pyridines
  • 3-azopyridine
  • Nickel
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide