Chelating agents for attaching metal ions to proteins

Abstract

A new series of bifunctional chelating agents useful for attaching metal ions to proteins, polypeptides and other polymers and methods for their preparation are described. These reagents are unique in their ability to bind a variety of metal ions and to yield a high metal ion concentration per protein molecule. Using these methods polymeric analogs of these bifunctional chelating agents called Starburst ligands can also be obtained. Protein metal chelates thus obtained will have useful radiophysical, chemical, fluorescent, photochemical and magnetic properties suitable for biomedical applications.

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