Figure 2.
Detecting enzyme activities through changes in T1 relaxation time caused by alterations in rotational tumbling times. Top Panel: The contrast agent, hydroxytyraminyl-glycylmethylDOTA [D-DOTA(Gd)]; Bottom Panel: Polymerization of the contrast agent by perixodiase slows the rotational tumbling time of the agent, which causes a decrease in the T1 relaxation time of the agent on a per-Gd basis. (C) MR images of the contrast agent at various gadolinium concentrations in the presence of peroxidase (+ Px) or in the absence of peroxidase (− Px) and hydrogen peroxide, demonstrating the detection of peroxidase enzyme activity. Reproduced with permission from (31a).