Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.

Lixia Wei

Jenny Jie Yang

Shenghui Xue

Jingjuan Qiao

Yubin Zhou

Zhiren Liu

Jie Jiang

Shunyi Li

Provided is a protein contrast agent for enhancing an MRI image and comprising a polypeptide having a conformation presenting at least five oxygen atoms positioned to chelate at least one paramagnetic metal ion such as Gd, each oxygen atom being between about 2 angstrom units and about 5 angstrom units from the metal ion; the metal ion has at least one water molecule electrostatically interacting a distance of less than about 10 angstrom units a target-specific moiety conjugated thereto, at least one polyethylene glycol molecule, and a paramagnetic metal ion. Also provided is a method of obtaining an enhanced MRI image using the protein contrast agent to a T2/T1 or T1/T2 intensity ratio of the MRI image; and (d) obtaining an image of the T2/T1 or T1/T2 intensity ratio.

Contrast agents, methods for preparing contrast agents, and methods of imaging

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Duluth, GA, United States of America

Lixia Wei