Padmaja Gunda

BACKGROUND: Synthetic nanoparticles are emerging as versatile tools in biomedical applications, particularly in the area of biomedical imaging. Nanoparticles 1 - 100 nm in diameter have dimensions comparable to biological functional units. Diverse surface chemistries, unique magnetic properties, tunable absorption and emission properties, and recent advances in the synthesis and engineering of various nanoparticles suggest their potential as probes for early detection of diseases such as cancer. Surface functionalization has expanded further the potential of nanoparticles as probes for molecular imaging. OBJECTIVE: To summarize emerging research of nanoparticles for biomedical imaging with increased selectivity and reduced nonspecific uptake with increased spatial resolution containing stabilizers conjugated with targeting ligands. METHODS: This review summarizes recent technological advances in the synthesis of various nanoparticle probes, and surveys methods to improve the targeting of nanoparticles for their application in biomedical imaging. CONCLUSION: Structural design of nanomaterials for biomedical imaging continues to expand and diversify. Synthetic methods have aimed to control the size and surface characteristics of nanoparticles to control distribution, half-life and elimination. Although molecular imaging applications using nanoparticles are advancing into clinical applications, challenges such as storage stability and long-term toxicology should continue to be addressed.

Substituents on both the nucleoside arylsulfonate as well as the aryl amine component have a significant impact on their coupling to form 2,6-diaminopurine-2′-deoxyribonucleosides (see scheme). A systematic study of ligands for the Pd catalysts in amination and CC cross-coupling reactions gives insight into the structural elements that lead to effective catalysis.

In order to understand how electronic and other structural characteristics of biphenyl phosphine ligands affect Pd-catalyzed C-N and C-C bond-forming reactions, a new ligand, 2-(dicyclohexylphosphino)-4'-(N,N-dimethylamino)-1,1'-biphenyl, was synthesized. This compound is isomeric with the commercially available 2-(dicyclohexylphosphino)-2'-(N,N-dimethylamino)-1,1'-biphenyl that has been useful in C-N bond-forming reactions of nucleosides. The new p-dimethylamino biphenyl ligand bears electronic similarities to the o-dimethylamino isomer, but it also possesses structural similarities to 2-(dicyclohexylphosphino)biphenyl, such as the unsubstituted ortho positions in the non-phosphine ring. Whereas 2-(dicyclohexylphosphino)biphenyl can support catalysts for C-C bond formation, it was not effective in promoting aryl amination of a nucleoside substrate. However, the new ligand proved to be effective in promoting both aryl amination and C-C bond-forming reactions of nucleoside substrates, with some reactions even occurring at room temperature. Thus, the composite structural elements of this new ligand are thought to be criteria for reactivity of the catalytic system derived from it. We have probed the structures of the isomeric N,N-dimethylamino biphenyl ligands by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Interactions of the two ligands with Pd(OAc)(2) have been investigated by (31)P NMR, and they show substantial stoichiometry-dependent differences. These results have been compared to the interactions of Pd(OAc)(2) with 2-(dicyclohexylphosphino)biphenyl as well as 2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)biphenyl, and they reveal marked differences as well. In this process, three cyclopalladated biaryl derivatives have been isolated and characterized by X-ray analysis.

[reaction: see text] Palladium catalyzed cross coupling of nucleoside arylsulfonates and arylboronic acids has been accomplished under mild conditions and at room temperature. Among three structurally similar ligands that differ in their steric and electronic properties, one yielded an effective catalyst in conjunction with Pd(OAc)2. Of the nucleoside arylsulfonates evaluated, the O6-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)sulfonate proved optimal, but other alkyl and alkoxy derivatives were also reasonably reactive. On the other hand, a 2-nitrophenyl and a 2-thienyl derivative were ineffective substrates. PhMe and THP were suitable as solvents, yielding good results in several cases, although reactions of some arylboronic acids were faster in PhMe. In contrast, reactions of arylboronic acids bearing strongly electron-withdrawing groups proceeded more successfully in THP. Interplay between several factors that include substituents on the nucleoside arylsulfonate, ligand substituents, and solvent is responsible for successful cross coupling. Using 31P NMR, an initial investigation has been conducted to study the interaction of Pd(OAc)2 with the ligand. At a 1:1 stoichiometry of ligand and Pd(OAc)2, a predominant species, likely a cyclopalladation product, was obtained. At a 2:1 ratio of ligand and Pd(OAc)2, a different species bearing chemically distinct phosphine ligands was observed. Both complexes display catalytic activity, although the 2:1 species may be superior.