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Self-Assembling Peptide-Based High-Relaxivity Prostate-Cancer-Targeted Mri Contrast Agents, Andrew O'Brien
Self-Assembling Peptide-Based High-Relaxivity Prostate-Cancer-Targeted Mri Contrast Agents, Andrew O'Brien
Theses
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a widely used, highly effective imaging method for diagnosing cancer and guiding treatment. MRI contrast agents enhance image quality, with higher relaxivity (r1) contrast agents providing the best utility. Attaching a cancer-specific-targeting group enhances the image further. Therefore, a high-relaxivity cancer-targeted contrast agent is a highly desirable tool for diagnosis and treatment. Our group previously synthesized a peptide-based MRI contrast agent with the Ala(Gd-DO3A) chelator that targeted the prostate cancer biomarker PSMA using the small-molecule ligand DCL. While this agent displayed nominal relaxivity, it was serendipitously found that the relaxivity of a synthetic intermediate containing …
Dual Function Molecular Imaging Probes For Breast Cancer, Christopher Denyse
Dual Function Molecular Imaging Probes For Breast Cancer, Christopher Denyse
Theses
Breast cancer (BrCa) is a pressing health concern, necessitating the development of effective imaging and therapeutic agents. To address this need, we designed and synthesized molecularly targeted imaging and therapeutic agents that combine visualization and treatment of tumors in real-time. Our approach involved the development of dual-modal agents, incorporating the fluorescent near infrared (NIR) dye, IRDye78, and a chlorin-based photosensitizer (PS) dye, Mesopyropheoborbide-a (mPPa), coupled to a BrCa-targeting peptide, "18-4." Additionally, we created a water-soluble, single-modal targeted PS probe for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of BrCa for use guided by other imaging methods. Our methodology was based on a modular approach, …