One-Component Supramolecular Filament Hydrogels as Theranostic Label-Free Magnetic Resonance Imaging Agents.

ABSTRACT: Gadolinium (Gd)-based compounds and materials are the most commonly used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents in the clinic; however, safety concerns associated with their toxicities in the free ionic form have promoted the development of new generations of metal-free contrast agents. Here we report a supramolecular strategy to convert an FDA-approved anticancer drug, Pemetrexed (Pem), to a molecular hydrogelator with inherent chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI signals. The rationally designed drug-peptide conjugate can spontaneously associate into filamentous assemblies under physiological conditions and consequently form theranostic supramolecular hydrogels for injectable delivery. We demonstrated that the local delivery and distribution of Pem-peptide nanofiber

SUBMITTER: Lock LL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5773287 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature