Abstract:
Compositions and methods for chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or frequency labeled exchange (FLEX) imaging are disclosed. Beta-hydroxycarboxylate and beta-aminocarboxylate derivatives including salicylic acid, salicylates, salicylic acid prodrugs, N-alkyl/aryl/acyl/sulfonyl-anthranilic acid analogs, and any aromatic compound with OH/NH group ortho to the carboxylic acid group are disclosed. Such compounds can be used as general MRI organic contrast agents and produce significantly improved contrast in MR images detectable through CEST or FLEX.