Scientists in the College of Science have filed a patent on a design for a new magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent with the potential to outperform current agents while being less toxic to patients and more environmentally friendly.
The new material is based on a structure known as a metal-organic framework or MOF, whose development in the 1990s earned this year’s Nobel Prize for chemistry as MOFs’ many possible uses become increasingly apparent.
MOFs are made up of positively charged metal ions surrounded by organic “linker” molecules. They have nanosized pores and can be designed with a variety of components that determine the MOF’s properties.
Researchers led by materials chemist Kyriakos Stylianou say their novel manganese-based MOF, which they named BVR-19, is a promising alternative to currently used contrast agents based on gadolinium. BVR is an abbreviation for beaver, OSU’s mascot.
A contrast agent, also called a contrast medium, is a substance that enhances the visibility of tissues during medical imaging. Globally, the MRI contrast agent industry has an estimated value of more than $1.5 billion and is expected to grow by $750 million over the next five years amid rising demand for non-invasive diagnostic procedures.
Gadolinium is a rare earth element that comes with concerns regarding toxicity to patients, potential harm to the environment, and supply chain issues given that China accounts for many of the rare earth reserves and much of the processing and production capacity.
Manganese, however, is plentiful in the earth’s crust. In addition to being used in making batteries, steel and ceramics, manganese is vital for human health in trace amounts, playing roles in antioxidation, bone formation and the metabolism of cholesterols, carbohydrates and amino acids.
“BVR-19 represents a paradigm shift in MRI contrast agent design,” said Stylianou, who directs the OSU’s Materials Discovery Laboratory, or MaD Lab. “We’re replacing toxic metals with abundant, biocompatible ones, without compromising performance.”
