Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important, non-invasive and high-resolution biomedical imaging technique. Clinically approved T1 MRI contrast agents that are used for about 40% of MRI exams contain gadolinium ion (Gd(III)). However there are new concerns about the potential toxicity of clinically approved Gd(III) based MRI contrast agents. High spin complexes of Mn(II) and Fe(III) are potential alternatives to Gd(III) contrast agents because their relatively long electronic relaxation times lead to enhanced T1 relaxation enhancement of water protons. We designed and synthesized triazacyclononane-based mononuclear and dinuclear macrocyclic Fe(III) complexes with various coordinating and non-coordinating groups. These are the first macrocyclic Fe(III) based agents that produce T1 relaxivity values that are similar to those of Gd(III) based clinical agents at 4.7 T and 9.4 T in phantoms. This research seminar will cover macrocyclic organic ligand synthesis, Fe(III) complexation, analytical characterizations and detailed solution chemistry of Fe(III) complexes, in vivo MRI imaging and bio distribution studies As a further step, suggestions on the design and synthesis of dendrimeric and nanomaterial-conjugated Fe(III)-based T1 and dual-modal T1/T2 MRI contrast probes will be presented. In the second part of the talk, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) based proteomics and metabolomics approaches will be briefly introduced. Multi-omics using HRMS is emerging as a promising tool to investigate the molecular mechanisms, drugs, vaccines, biomarkers, and other medical discoveries additionally can provide researchers with a greater understanding of the flow of information, from the root cause of disease to the functional results or relevant interactions. Here, the recent approaches of using LC-MS/MS-based multi-omics to investigate the effect of MRI contrast agents on metabolomics mechanisms will be discussed.

Short Biography of the Speaker:

Dr. Didar Aşık is a Scientist of Chemistry in the Multi-Omics Team of the BioProduction R&D Group at Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. in the USA since 2022. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics with a minor in Chemistry (2008-20013) and her Master of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering (2013-2015) from Koç University in Turkey. She pursued her Ph.D. in the Chemistry Department at the University at Buffalo, NY, in the USA, and was a finalist for the Best Dissertation of the Year 2021 Award. From 2021 to 2022, Dr. Aşık worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of California, Davis. Her research interests include transition metal-based complexes as MRI contrast probes and LC-MS/MS based multi-omics approaches.