Ultraviolet and magnetic-circular-diochroic spectroscopic studies of Gd(III) complexed with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid: A contrast agent for NMR imaging

Abstract

Sensitive probes are required for studying the biochemistry of Gd(III) contrast agents used in magnetic resonance imaging. We show that complexation of Gd(III) by diethylenetriamine-<i>N,N,N′,N′,N”</i>-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) in aqueous solution can be readily determined from the sharp 4f-f bands for free and bound Gd(III) in the range 270–282 nm, and, with greater sensitivity, from the associated magnetic-circular-dichroic spectra.