Cucurbit[6]uril is an ultrasensitive (129)Xe NMR contrast agent.

ABSTRACT: A lack of molecular contrast agents has slowed the application of ultrasensitive hyperpolarized (129)Xe NMR methods. Here, we report that commercially available cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) undergoes rapid xenon exchange kinetics at 300 K, and is detectable by Hyper-CEST NMR at 1.8 pM in PBS and at 1 ?M in human plasma where many molecules, including polyamines, can compete with xenon for CB[6] binding.

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4433404 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature