Gd-enhanced MR images of substrates other than water.

This communication reports the dramatic relaxation enhancements that can be obtained upon the interaction of substrates like lactate, trifluorolactate and inorganic phosphate with the paramagnetic GdDO3A agent. This occurs thanks to the formation of kinetically labile ternary complexes in which the substrate nuclei are in close proximity to the paramagnetic center. It is demonstrated that heteronuclear (13)C, (19)F and (31)P-MR images can be obtained from phantoms containing the substrate in the millimolar concentration range. Copyright 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.