Discrete Polymer-based, Metal-free MRI Contrast Agents

Louisiana State Univ A&M Col Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge LA

Investigators

Abstract

Project Summary Structural dispersity in synthetic polymers is paramount for their clinical use and regulatory approval. In this project, we propose the development of water-soluble discrete bottlebrush polymers bearing alternating phospholipid and fluorinated comonomers to enable their clinical applications as metal-free19F MRI contrast agents. The novelty of the proposed polymer system is that it combines: 1. discrete molecular weight (as opposed to conventional disperse polymers); 2. multifunctionality of branched architectures; 3. high water solubility and biocompatibility of phosphorylcholine groups; and 4. exogenous and chemically identical signal of19F groups. Rational design of the brush polymer architecture, comonomer sequence, and lipophilic-hydrophilic balance is anticipated to suppress signal broadening and yield discrete synthetic polymer-based platforms that can be further extended to other targeted imaging and sensing strategies.