Polymeric contrast agents for medical imaging

摘要

The invention provides polymeric polychelants containing polymer repeat units of formula [L-Ch-L-B] (where Ch is a polydentate chelant moiety; L is an amide or ester linkage; B is a hydrophobic group providing a carbon chain of at least 4 carbon atoms between the L linkages it interconnects) or a salt or chelate thereof, with the proviso that where Ch is 2,5-biscarboxymethyl-2,5-diazahex-1,6-diyl, the polychelant is metallated with lanthanide or manganese ions or B provides a carbon chain of at least 10 carbon atoms between the L linkages it interconnects and their salts and chelates. The paramagnetic polychelates of the polychelants of the invention have remarkably high R1 relaxivities.