Dual-modality probe for MRI and photoacoustic imaging: synthesis, and relaxometric characterization

Multimodality imaging based on complementary modalities is a way to improve the accuracy of medical diagnosis. For such purpose, multimodal probes combining the appropriate contrastophores into a single delivery are required. The project presented here deals with the combination of two modalities: MRI, and photoacoustic imaging (PAI). The dual probe envisaged is based on a gadolinium chelate as contrast-agent for MRI, and the ZW800-1 fluorophore for PAI, both of them being grafted on a L-lysine linker. The results presented describe the synthesis pathway, and the relaxometric characterization of the dual compound.