Directory
Magnetogenic Probes Responding to Enzyme Activity
This requires the mastery of coordination chemistry in physiological media, and thus of the synthetic chemistry of poly-amine macrocycles and their complexation with iron(II) atoms. Samples containing the targeted enzyme activity pass from a non-magnetic (diamagnetic) state to a magnetic (paramagnetic) state, and the probe thus operates in a true off-on mode. The newly established paramagnetism can be detected by several established methods ranging from MRI instruments over EPR spectrometers and supra-conducting NMR spectrometers all the way to simple micro-NMR devices operating with a hand-held permanent magnet. Current research focusses on adapting the probes to operate at physiogical pH, optimization of response rate and cell internalization.