Hyperpolarization of Amino Acid Derivatives in Water for Biological Applications

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the synthesis and hyperpolarization of amino acid derivatives in water, achieving in vivo detectable levels of polarization, with potential applications in biological imaging.

Contribution

It introduces a method for hyperpolarizing amino acid derivatives in water without N-protection, enhancing biocompatibility for biological applications.

Findings

Achieved 4.4% $^{13}$C polarization in alanine derivative

Water as solvent improves biocompatibility

N-protection not required maintains biological activity

Abstract

We report on the successful synthesis and hyperpolarization of N unprotected {\alpha} amino acid ethyl acrylate esters and extensively, on an alanine derivative hyperpolarized by PHIP (4.4$\pm$1% $^{13}$C-polarization), meeting required levels for in vivo detection. Using water as solvent increases biocompatibility and the absence of N-protection is expected to maintain biological activity.