Organic radical contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging.

We report a molecular design that provides an intravenously injectable organic radical contrast agent (ORCA) for which the molecular (1)H water relaxivity (r(1)) is ca. 5 mM(-1) s(-1). The ORCA is based on spirocyclohexyl nitroxide radicals and poly(ethylene glycol) chains conjugated to a fourth-generation polypropylenimine dendrimer scaffold. The metal-free ORCA has a long shelf life and provides selectively enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in mice for over 1 h.