Nitroxides as metabolic and EPR imaging probes in biological model systems

Abstract

Nitroxides are unusually stable free radicals and sensitive “reporters” of the chemico-physical environment which surround them. The term “reporter group” was used to indicate this property, later the term spin label or spin probe was preferred. The facile synthesis and the multiplicity of compounds which have been coupled to the nitroxide moiety has allowed the development of a number of applications. Nitroxides have been used to study molecular mobility of proteins and lipids in membranes, enzyme active sites, DNA synthesis, and measure of electrical potential, pH, temperature as well as oxygen gradients across membranes; more recently, as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging and electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI). Aim of this work is to review and comment on the use of various nitroxides as metabolic probes, and in EPRI in studies of biomedical interest.