MRI Visualization of Injectable Ureidopyrimidinone Hydrogelators by Supramolecular Contrast Agent Labeling

Abstract

Information about the in vivo location, shape, degradation, or erosion rate of injected in situ gelating hydrogels can be obtained with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Herein, an injectable supramolecular ureidopyrimidinone-based hydrogel (UPy-PEG) is functionalized with a modified Gadolinium(III)-DOTA complex (UPy-Gd) for contrast enhanced MRI. The contrast agent is designed to supramolecularly interact with the hydrogel network to enable high-quality imaging of this hydrogel. The applicability of the approach is demonstrated with successful visualization of the Gd-labeled UPy-PEG hydrogel after targeted intramyocardial catheter injection in a pig heart.

Keywords: MRI; catheters; gadolinium; injectable hydrogels; ureidopyrimidinone.