The integration of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) promises to lead to new generations of biomedical imaging technologies. This proposal outlines important studies en route to this vision by designing EPR imaging (EPRI) probes based on transition-metal ions. The specific intent is to realize EPRI probes that function with low frequency microwaves at high magnetic fields. Modern EPR imaging techniques largely rely on open-shell organic radicals as probes for obtaining biochemical information. However, organic radicals impart a formidable obstacle to merging EPR with MRI, namely, their requirement for high-frequency microwave radiation at high magnetic field. Such high- frequency microwaves are strongly absorbed by water, which lowers technique sensitivity and induces localized heating. The proposed work will develop new imaging agents that function with low-frequency, biologically inert microwaves at high magnetic field, representing important progress toward the development of hybrid MRI/EPR imaging techniques. The significance of this proposal is that it addresses a key, needed innovation in the field of EPR imaging to circumvent the challenges of high frequency microwave requirements. The proposed molecules will be designed following an electronic structure hypothesis: that an important facet of transition metal ions, spin-orbit coupling, will enable such species to function as low-frequency/high-field EPRI probes. Spin-orbit coupling ? largely absent in organic radicals ? engenders the presence of EPR transitions in metal ions that decrease in microwave frequency with increasing magnetic field. Thus, metal complexes hold significant promise as a valuable family of low-frequency EPR imaging probes capable of seamless integration with existing high-field MRI technology. This work will seek to disprove the alternative hypothesis: that the EPR spectroscopic properties of magnetic metal ions will in contrast prevent utility for EPR imaging. Such properties include (1) difficulty in the design of molecules with an exact EPR transition field and frequency, (2) broad signal linewidths, and (3) short relaxation times. The proposed work will directly explore solutions to these challenges through a coordination chemistry approach. Specifically, tunable molecular features such as electronic structure, rigidity, and chemical composition will be harnessed to subdue the foregoing detrimental properties. Thus, the anticipated result of funding this proposal is a set of empirical design principles for a new class of metal-based EPR probe. In the longer term, such design principles will open the door to probes that function with low frequency microwaves at high magnetic fields, leading to new, noninvasive diagnostic imaging techniques.
Open-shell metal complexes promise to enable new strategies for physiological monitoring via high-field electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI). This work will use synthetic coordination chemistry to address key requirements toward using such complexes as probes for EPR imaging, specifically the challenges of EPR resonance frequency control, broad linewidths, and short spin relaxation times. The proposed work will lead to a potent new family of noninvasive imaging probes, ultimately inspiring new imaging methodologies.
