Curcumin Targeted, Polymalic Acid-Based MRI Contrast Agent for the Detection of Aβ Plaques in Alzheimer's Disease

Macromol Biosci. 2015 Sep;15(9):1212-7. doi: 10.1002/mabi.201500062. Epub 2015 Jun 2.

Abstract

Currently, there is no gadolinium-based contrast agent available for conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detection of amyloidal beta (Aβ) plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Its timely finding would be vital for patient survival and quality of life. Curcumin (CUR), a common Indian spice effectively binds to Aβ plaques which is a hallmark of AD. To address this binding, we have designed a novel nanoimaging agent (NIA) based on nature-derived poly(β-l-malic acid) (PMLA) containing covalently attached gadolinium-DOTA(Gd-DOTA) and nature-derived CUR. The all-in-one agent recognizes and selectively binds to Aβ plaques and is detected by MRI. It efficiently detected Aβ plaques in human and mouse samples by an ex vivo staining. The method can be useful in clinic for safe and noninvasive diagnosis of AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer disease; curcumin; MRI; nanoimaging agent; polymalic acid.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis*
  • Animals
  • Brain / pathology
  • Contrast Media / chemistry*
  • Curcumin / analogs & derivatives
  • Curcumin / chemistry
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Malates / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
  • Plaque, Amyloid / diagnosis*
  • Polymers / chemistry*

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Malates
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Polymers
  • poly(malic acid)
  • gadolinium 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetate
  • Curcumin