JP2008074716A - Steroid compound having bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl group - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compound having excellent solubility etc., and suitable for a lesion-selective liposome contrast medium. <P>SOLUTION: The compound is represented by general formula (I) [wherein, A represents an oxygen atom or a single bond; L represents a bivalent linking group having a 1-10C main chain or a single bond; A and L do not simultaneously represent the single bond; and Ste represents a hydrocarbon group containing a steroid skeleton represented by general formula (II) as a partial structure] or a salt etc., thereof. Lesions of blood vessel can selectively be imaged by MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) imaging or PET (positron emission tomography) imaging using the contrast medium comprising a liposome containing the compound, a salt thereof, etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steroid compound having a bis (trifluoromethyl) phenyl group. This compound can be used as a membrane component of the liposome, and the liposome can be used as a contrast agent.

  As a non-invasive diagnosis method for arteriosclerosis, there is mainly an X-ray angiography. However, since this method is a method of imaging a blood flow with a water-soluble iodine contrast medium, it is difficult to distinguish between a diseased tissue and a normal tissue. Therefore, only lesions with stenosis of 50% or more can be detected, and it is difficult to detect lesions before the onset of an ischemic disease.

  As a diagnostic method other than the above, in recent years, a method for detecting a disease by nuclear magnetic resonance tomography (MRI) using a contrast agent that is dynamically distributed in atherosclerotic plaque has been reported. However, any of the compounds reported as the contrast agent has a problem when used in diagnostic methods. For example, a hematoporphyrin derivative (see Patent Document 1) has been pointed out to have defects in deposition and coloring on the skin, and a gadolinium complex having a perfluoro side chain that has been reported to accumulate in lipid rich plaques (non- Patent Document 1) is concerned about accumulation in lipid-rich tissues and organs such as fatty liver, kidney epithelium, and muscle tissue tendons.

From the viewpoint of the compound, bis (trifluoromethyl) benzoic acid and an ester of an alcohol having a steroid skeleton are known, but the vicinity of the ester group has a structure in which the vicinity of the ester group is sterically crowded. There is concern about persistent decomposition.
U.S. Patent No. 4577636 Circulation, 109, 2890 (2004)

  An object of the present invention is to provide a compound suitable for a liposome contrast agent for imaging a lesion selectively.

  As a result of studies conducted by the present inventors to solve the above-mentioned problems, the steroid compound having a bis (trifluoromethyl) phenyl group of the present invention has excellent properties as a component of a liposome as a contrast agent. I found out. The present invention has been completed based on the above findings.

［式中、Ａは酸素原子または単結合を表し；Ｌは主鎖が１〜１０個の炭素原子からなる２価の連結基または単結合を表すが、ＡとＬが同時に単結合を表すことはなく；Ｓｔｅは下記一般式（II）：

で表されるステロイド骨格を部分構造として含む炭化水素基を表す]で表される化合物又はその塩を提供するものである。 That is, the present invention provides the following general formula (I):

[Wherein, A represents an oxygen atom or a single bond; L represents a divalent linking group or a single bond whose main chain is composed of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and A and L represent a single bond at the same time. None; Ste is the following general formula (II):

Represents a hydrocarbon group containing a steroid skeleton represented by the above as a partial structure] or a salt thereof.

で表される炭化水素基である上記の化合物又はその塩が提供される。さらに好ましくは、−Ａ−が酸素原子である上記の化合物又はその塩である。また、この発明が示す別の好ましい態様によれば、化合物を構成するフッ素原子のうち、少なくとも一つが¹⁸Ｆ（放射性同位体）である上記の化合物又はその塩が提供される。 According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Ste is represented by the following general formula (III) or (IV):

Or a salt thereof, which is a hydrocarbon group represented by the formula: More preferred is the above compound or a salt thereof, wherein -A- is an oxygen atom. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the above compound or a salt thereof, wherein at least one of fluorine atoms constituting the compound is ¹⁸ F (radioisotope).

From another aspect, the present invention provides a liposome containing the above-mentioned compound or a salt thereof as a membrane constituent, and according to a preferred embodiment thereof, the above-mentioned liposome containing phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine as membrane constituents is provided. .
The present invention also provides an MRI contrast agent containing the above-mentioned liposome. According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the MRI contrast agent used for imaging of vascular diseases; the MRI contrast agent used for imaging of vascular smooth muscle cells abnormally proliferated under the influence of foamed macrophages; a tissue in which macrophages are localized or The above-mentioned MRI contrast medium used for imaging of a disease site; the above-mentioned MRI contrast medium wherein the tissue in which macrophages are localized is selected from the group consisting of liver, spleen, alveoli, lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, and kidney epithelium; The MRI contrast agent is provided, wherein the localized disease site is selected from the group consisting of a tumor, an inflammation site, and an infection site.

  Similarly, the present invention provides a PET contrast agent comprising the above-described liposome. According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the PET contrast agent used for imaging of vascular diseases; the PET contrast agent used for imaging of vascular smooth muscle cells abnormally proliferated under the influence of foamed macrophages; The PET contrast agent used for imaging of a diseased site; the PET contrast agent selected from the group consisting of liver, spleen, alveoli, lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, and kidney epithelium; The PET contrast agent is provided, wherein the localized disease site is selected from the group consisting of a tumor, an inflammation site, and an infection site.

  Furthermore, use of the above-mentioned compound or its salt for the production of the above-mentioned MRI contrast agent / PET contrast agent; MRI contrast / PET contrast method, comprising the above-mentioned compound or its salt as a membrane constituent A method comprising the steps of MRI imaging / PET imaging after administration to a mammal including human, and a method for imaging a lesion of a vascular disease, comprising the above-mentioned compound or a liposome containing a salt as a membrane component, including human Provided by the present invention is a method comprising the step of MRI / PET imaging after administration to a mammal.

  The compound of the present invention or a salt thereof has excellent properties in the amount of liposome encapsulated as a constituent lipid of a liposome for MRI / PET contrast agent, and MRI contrast / PET contrast using a liposome containing this compound. By doing so, the contrast of the blood vessel can be selectively imaged.

  In this specification, when “substituted or unsubstituted” or “may have a substituent” for a certain functional group, the functional group may have one or more substituents. Although shown, the number of substituents to be bonded, the position of substitution, and the type are not particularly limited unless otherwise specified. When a certain functional group has two or more substituents, they may be the same or different. In this specification, when a certain functional group has a substituent, examples of the substituent include a halogen atom (in the present specification, “halogen atom” may be any of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine). An alkyl group (in this specification, the term “alkyl group” may be linear, branched, cyclic, or a combination thereof, and the cyclic alkyl group may be a polycyclic alkyl such as a bicycloalkyl group. The same applies to the alkyl moiety of other substituents including an alkyl moiety), alkenyl groups (including cycloalkenyl groups and bicycloalkenyl groups), alkynyl groups, aryl groups, heterocyclic groups, cyano groups, hydroxyl groups Group, nitro group, carboxyl group, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, silyloxy group, heterocyclic oxy group, acyloxy Carbamoyloxy group, alkoxycarbonyloxy group, aryloxycarbonyloxy group, amino group (including anilino group), acylamino group, aminocarbonylamino group, alkoxycarbonylamino group, aryloxycarbonylamino group, sulfamoylamino group, Alkyl and arylsulfonylamino groups, mercapto groups, alkylthio groups, arylthio groups, heterocyclic thio groups, sulfamoyl groups, sulfo groups, alkyl and arylsulfinyl groups, alkyl and arylsulfonyl groups, acyl groups, aryloxycarbonyl groups, alkoxycarbonyl groups Carbamoyl group, aryl and heterocyclic azo group, imide group, phosphino group, phosphinyl group, phosphinyloxy group, phosphinylamino group and silyl group.

  L represents a divalent linking group having a main chain of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a single bond. When -L- represents a single bond, -A- represents an oxygen atom. The main chain in L represents an atomic group connecting -A- and -CO- adjacent to L with the shortest number among the constituent atoms of L. The number of carbon atoms constituting the main chain of L is more preferably 1 to 5. The atoms other than the carbon atoms constituting L are not particularly defined, but are preferably a hydrogen atom, an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, or a sulfur atom, and most preferably a hydrogen atom or an oxygen atom. The number of atoms other than carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms constituting L is not particularly limited, but is usually 10 or less, preferably 5 or less, and most preferably 3 or less. L may be linear, branched, cyclic, or a combination thereof, but is preferably linear or branched, and most preferably linear. L may be saturated or may contain an unsaturated bond. When an unsaturated bond is included, the type, position, and number are not particularly specified. Preferable examples of the linking group represented by L include an alkylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and an alkenylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Ste represents a hydrocarbon group containing a steroid skeleton represented by the formula (II) as a partial structure. An arbitrary substituent is added to the partial structure to form Ste, but the number, position, and type of the substituent are not particularly limited. The number of substituents is usually 30 or less, more preferably 15 or less, and most preferably 10 or less. Preferred examples of the substituent include an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an amino group, an acylamino group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, and an oxo group, an alkyl group, Examples include a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, an acyloxy group, an acyl group, and an oxo group. Ste may contain an unsaturated bond in its structure. When an unsaturated bond is included, the type, position, and number are not particularly limited, but are usually 5 or less, and more preferably 3 or less.
Preferred examples of Ste include hydrocarbon groups represented by the following general formula (III) or (IV) derived from cholesterol or cholestanol.

The group represented by the general formula (III) or (IV) may have a substituent at any number, type, and position, but is more preferably unsubstituted. The configuration of each asymmetric carbon contained in the group represented by the general formula (III) or (IV) may be any of R configuration and S configuration, or a mixture thereof. .

  The bis (trifluoromethyl) phenyl group contained in the compound of the present invention may have a substituent, but is preferably unsubstituted. Although the substitution position of two trifluoromethyl groups is not particularly defined, it is more preferable that each of the two is substituted at the meta position with respect to -A-.

  The compound of the present invention may have one or more asymmetric centers. In this case, stereoisomers such as optically active substances or diastereoisomers based on the asymmetric centers exist. Any stereoisomers in pure form, mixtures of any stereoisomers, racemates, and the like are all encompassed within the scope of the present invention. In addition, the compound of the present invention may have one or more olefinic double bonds, but the arrangement may be either E or Z, and may exist as a mixture of both. . The compounds of the invention may exist as tautomers, but any tautomer, or mixture thereof, is included within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the compound of the present invention may form a salt, and the free form compound or the salt form compound may form a hydrate or a solvate. Is included. The kind of salt is not particularly limited, and may be either an acid addition salt or a base addition salt.

Although the preferable example of the compound of this invention is shown below, the compound of this invention is not limited to these examples.

Among the fluorine atoms in the compound represented by the above general formula (I), the compound in which at least one ¹⁸ F, a compound having one or more than six ¹⁸ F are preferred, three or less of one or more More preferred are compounds having ¹⁸ F. In addition, when there are multiple ¹⁸ Fs, the position is not particularly specified.

  Hereinafter, a general method for synthesizing the compound of the present invention will be described, but the method for synthesizing the compound of the present invention is not limited thereto. As the carboxylic acid having a bis (trifluoromethyl) phenyl group, which is a partial structure of the compound of the present invention, a commercially available product may be used, or may be appropriately synthesized according to the application. When obtained by synthesis, the corresponding phenol, alkyl halide, or the like can be used as a raw material by the method described in, for example, Richard C. Larock, Comprehensive organic transformations (VCH).

  The above carboxylic acid is condensed with a steroid compound typified by cholesterol or the like to lead to the target ester. In this case, if necessary, a protecting group can be used. In this case, the protecting group is described in, for example, Protecting groups in organic synthesis (John Wiley & sonc, inc.) By TW Green & PGM Wuts. Can be appropriately selected and used.

In addition, a compound in which at least one of the fluorine atoms in the compound represented by the general formula (I) is ¹⁸ F is described in, for example, J. Labelled Compd. Radiopharm., 40 , 11-13 (1997). It can be synthesized according to the method.

The compound of the present invention or a salt thereof can be used as a membrane constituent of a liposome. When preparing a liposome using the compound of the present invention or a salt thereof, the amount of the compound of the present invention or a salt thereof used is about 5 to 90% by mass, preferably 5 to 80% by mass with respect to the total mass of the membrane constituent components. %. Although the compound of this invention may use 1 type as a film | membrane structural component, you may use it in combination of 2 or more types.
As other membrane constituent components of the liposome, any lipid compound usually used in the production of liposomes can be used. For example, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 150 (4), 44 (1982), Adv. In Lipid. Res. 16 (1), 1 (1978), RESEARCH IN LIPOSOMES (P. Machy, L. Leserman, John Libbey EUROTEXT Co., Ltd.), “Liposome” (Nojima, Sunamoto, Inoue Hen, Nankodo) and the like. As the lipid compound, phospholipid is preferable, and phosphatidylcholine (PC) is particularly preferable. Preferred examples of phosphatidylcholines include eggPC (egg-derived PC), dimyristoyl PC (DMPC), dipalmitoyl PC (DPPC), distearoyl PC (DSPC), dioleyl PC (DOPC) and the like. It is not limited.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine (PS) can be used in combination as membrane constituents of the liposome. Examples of phosphatidylserine include compounds having the same lipid moiety as the phospholipids listed as preferred examples of phosphatidylcholine. When phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine are used in combination, the preferred molar ratio of PC and PS is between PC: PS = 90: 10 and 10:90, more preferably between 30:70 and 70:30. .
According to another preferred embodiment of the liposome of the present invention, a liposome containing phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine as a membrane component and further containing a dialkyl phosphate is mentioned. The two alkyl groups constituting the dialkyl ester of the phosphoric acid dialkyl ester are preferably the same, and the carbon number of each alkyl group is 6 or more, preferably 10 or more, and more preferably 12 or more. Examples of preferred dialkyl phosphates include, but are not limited to, dilauryl phosphate, dimyristyl phosphate, dicetyl phosphate, and the like. In this embodiment, the preferred amount of dialkyl phosphate used relative to the total weight of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine is 1 to 50% by weight, preferably 1 to 30% by weight, more preferably 1 to 20% by weight. .

In the liposome containing phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, dialkyl ester phosphate and the compound of the present invention as membrane components, the preferred mass ratio of the above components is PC: PS: dialkyl phosphate ester: 5-50% by mass of the compound of the present invention: It can be selected between 5-50% by mass: 1-10% by mass: 1-80% by mass.
The constituent components of the liposome of the present invention are not limited to the above four, and other components can be added. Examples thereof include cholesterol, cholesterol ester, sphingoemilin, FEBS Lett. 223, 42 (1987); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 85, 6949 (1988) and the like, Chem. Lett. 2145 (1989); Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1148, 77 (1992) and other glucuronic acid derivatives, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1029, 91 (1990); FEBS Lett. 268, 235 (1990), etc. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  The liposome of the present invention may be produced by any method available to those skilled in the art. Examples of production methods include the above-listed liposome review documents, Ann. Rev. Biophys. Bioeng. 9, 467 (1980), "Liposomes" (MJ Ostro, MARCELL DEKKER, INC.), Etc. Are listed. Specific examples include sonication, ethanol injection, French press method, ether injection method, cholic acid method, calcium fusion method, freeze-thaw method, reverse phase evaporation method, etc. Absent. The size of the liposome of the present invention may be any size that can be prepared by the above method, but the average is usually 400 nm or less, preferably 200 nm or less. The structure of the liposome is not particularly limited, and may be any form such as unilamellar or multilamellar. Moreover, it is also possible to mix | blend the 1 type (s) or 2 or more types of a suitable drug and another contrast agent in the inside of a liposome.

  When the liposome of the present invention is used as a contrast agent, it can be preferably administered parenterally, more preferably intravenously administered. For example, a preparation in the form of an injection or infusion is provided as a powdered composition in a lyophilized form, and is dissolved in water or other appropriate medium (for example, physiological saline, infusion of grapes, buffer, etc.) Or it can be resuspended. When the liposome of the present invention is used as a contrast agent, the dose can be appropriately determined so that the compound content in the liposome is comparable to the compound content of a conventional contrast agent.

  Without being bound to any particular theory, in vascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis or restenosis after PTCA (percutaneous coronary angioplasty), vascular smooth muscle cells that form the media of the blood vessels grow abnormally At the same time, it is known to migrate to the intima and narrow the blood flow path. Although the triggers for normal vascular smooth muscle cells to begin to grow abnormally have not yet been fully clarified, macrophage migration and foaming are known to be important factors, followed by vascular smoothness. It has been reported that myocytes undergo phenotype conversion (from contraction to synthesis).

  When the liposome of the present invention is used, a compound that serves as a defined contrast agent can be selectively taken into vascular smooth muscles that have abnormally grown under the influence of foamed macrophages. As a result, it is possible to contrast the lesion and the non-disease site with contrast. Therefore, the contrast agent of the present invention can be suitably used particularly for MRI imaging of vascular diseases. For example, imaging such as arteriosclerotic lesion or restenosis after PTCA can be performed.

  Further, as described in, for example, J. Biol. Chem., 265, 5226 (1990), liposomes composed of phospholipids, particularly liposomes formed from PC and PS, accumulate in macrophages via scavenger receptors. It is known to be easy. Therefore, by using the liposome of the present invention, the compound of the present invention can be accumulated in a tissue or a disease site where macrophages are localized. When the liposome of the present invention is used, more defined compounds can be accumulated in macrophages than when a suspension or oil emulsion, which is a known technique, is used.

  Examples of the tissue in which macrophage localization is recognized and which can be suitably imaged by the method of the present invention include blood vessels, liver, alveoli, lymph nodes, lymph vessels, and kidney epithelium. Further, in certain diseases, it is known that macrophages are accumulated at the disease site. Examples of such diseases include tumors, arteriosclerosis, inflammation, infection and the like. Therefore, these disease sites can be identified by using the liposome of the present invention. In particular, it is known that foamed macrophages that have incorporated a large amount of denatured LDL via a scavenger receptor accumulate in the early stage of atherosclerotic lesions [Am. J. Pathol., 103, 181 ( 1981), Annu. Rev. Biochem., 52, 223 (1983)], and by positioning the liposomes of the present invention in these macrophages and imaging them, the location of early arteriosclerotic lesions, which is difficult by other means, is specified. Is possible.

The imaging method using the liposome of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, an imaging method used as an MRI contrast agent can be performed by measuring the nuclear spin of fluorine. Moreover, it is also possible to use it as a PET contrast agent by using a radioisotope such as ¹⁸ F.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention further more concretely, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following Example. In addition, the compound number in the following Example respond | corresponds to the number of the compound example shown above. Moreover, the structure of the compound in an Example was confirmed by the NMR spectrum.

Synthesis of Compound 1-1 Cholesterol chloroformate (0.91 g) was dissolved in dichloromethane (5 mL), 3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl) phenol (0.52 g) and pyridine (0.32 g) were added, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature. 1N Hydrochloric acid was added to the reaction solution, and the mixture was extracted twice with dichloromethane. The obtained organic layer was washed with a saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution and saturated brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, removed, and purified by silica gel column chromatography to obtain 0.92 g (71%) of compound 1-1.
¹ H-NMR (300MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ: 7.51 (1H, s), 7.32 (2H, s), 5.39 (1H, d), 4.83-4.68 (1H, m), 4.69 (2H, s), 2.34 (2H, d), 2.06-0.80 (38H, m), 0.70 (3H, s).

Synthesis of Compound 1-2 Cholesterol chloroacetate (0.94 g) was dissolved in DMF (5 mL), potassium carbonate (0.56 g) and 3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl) phenol (0.92 g) were added, and the mixture was stirred at 60 ° C. for 5 hours. Water was added to the reaction solution, extracted with ethyl acetate, and the resulting organic layer was washed with saturated ammonium chloride solution and saturated brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, the solvent was removed, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography to obtain 1.13 g (85%) of compound 1-2.
¹ H-NMR (300MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ: 7.78 (1H, s), 7.70 (2H, s), 5.44 (1H, d), 4.70-4.53 (1H, m), 2.50 (2H, d), 2.10 -0.80 (38H, m), 0.70 (3H, s).

Synthesis of Compound 1-8
2,0.6 g of 3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl) phenol was dissolved in 270 mL of 1N sodium hydroxide, added, and heated to reflux for 10 hours. Further, 4.7 g of 11-bromododecanoic acid was added and heating under reflux was continued, followed by cooling. 1N Hydrochloric acid was added to the reaction solution, and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The resulting organic layer was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and the solvent was removed. The obtained crystals were washed with hexane and purified by silica gel column chromatography to obtain 18.4 g (50%) of 11- (3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl) phenoxy) dodecanoic acid.
0.65 g of the carboxylic acid was dissolved in 3 mL of dichloromethane, 0.61 g of cholesterol, 19 mg of 4- (dimethylamino) pyridine and 0.37 g of WSC (Dojin) were added, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature. Water was added to the reaction solution, followed by extraction twice with ethyl acetate, and the resulting organic layer was washed with saturated brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, the solvent was removed, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography to obtain 0.76 g (62%) of compound 1-8.
¹ H-NMR (300MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ: 7.44 (1H, s), 7.29 (2H, s), 5.38 (1H, d), 4.65-4.56 (1H, m), 4.01 (2H, t), 2.31 (2H, d), 2.28 (2H, t), 2.10-0.80 (54H, m), 0.70 (3H, s).

Synthesis of Compound 4-2 Dissolve 0.98 g of cholesterol succinate in 5 mL of dichloromethane, add 0.55 g of 3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl) phenol, 28 mg of 4- (dimethylamino) pyridine, and 0.52 g of WSC (Dojin) Stir at room temperature. Water was added to the reaction solution, extracted twice with dichloromethane, and the resulting organic layer was washed with saturated brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, removed, and purified by silica gel column chromatography to obtain 0.64 g (46%) of compound 4-2.
¹ H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃ ) δ: 7.76 (1H, s), 7.61 (2H, s), 5.37 (1H, d), 4.73-4.60 (1H, m), 2.91 (2H, dd), 2.74 (2H, dd), 2.33 (2H, d), 2.28 (2H, t), 2.10-0.80 (38H, m), 0.70 (3H, s).

Test Example 1: Liposome formation
According to the method described in J. Med. Chem., 25 (12), 1500 (1982), the following proportions of di-palmitoyl PC (Funakoshi, No. 1201-41-0225), di-palmitoyl PS (Funakoshi, No.1201-42-0237) was dissolved in chloroform together with the compound of the present invention in chloroform in an eggplant type flask to form a homogeneous solution, and then the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure to form a thin film on the bottom of the flask did. This thin film is dried in vacuum, 0.9% physiological saline (manufactured by Hikari Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., No512) is added in an appropriate amount, and ultrasonic irradiation (Branson Co., No.3542 probe type oscillator, 0.1 mW) is applied for 5 minutes under ice cooling. By carrying out, a uniform liposome dispersion was obtained. As a result of measuring the particle size of the obtained dispersion with a WBC analyzer (manufactured by Nihon Kohden Co., Ltd., A-1042), the particle size was 85 to 110 nm. Thus, it is clear that the compound of the present invention can be efficiently encapsulated in the following composition liposomes and has excellent properties as a constituent lipid of liposomes for contrast agents.

Maximum amount of liposome formation
PC 50 nmol + PS 50 nmol + 1-1 40 nmol
PC 50nmol + PS 50nmol + 1-2 40nmol
PC 50 nmol + PS 50 nmol + 1-8 20 nmol
PC 50 nmol + PS 50 nmol + 4-2 20 nmol

Test Example 2: Amount of compound taken up by vascular smooth muscle cells The liposome preparation prepared by the method of Test Example 1 was added to a mixed culture system of vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophages described in Japanese Patent No. 2001-018573. After culturing at 37 ° C. and 5% CO ₂ for 24 hours, the compound incorporated into vascular smooth muscle cells was quantified. Thus, it is clear that the compound of the present invention can be efficiently taken up into vascular smooth muscle cells and has excellent properties as a constituent lipid of liposomes for contrast agents.

Intake amount
PC 50 nmol + PS 50 nmol + 1-1 40 nmol 17.5 nmol / mg protein
PC 50 nmol + PS 50 nmol + 1-2 40 nmol 16.4 nmol / mg protein
PC 50 nmol + PS 50 nmol + 1-8 20 nmol 8.9 nmol / mg protein
PC 50 nmol + PS 50 nmol + 4-2 20 nmol 10.6 nmol / mg protein

Test example 3: Mice 3 day continuous administration toxicity test ICR mouse male 6 weeks old (Charles River Japan) was purchased, and after a quarantine period of 1 week, in clean animal house (air conditioning: Hepafilter class 1000, room temperature: 20 C. to 24.degree. C. Humidity: 35% to 60%) for one week. Thereafter, a mouse serum suspension of the test compound was administered from the tail vein in order to determine the MTD (maximum tolerated dose) value. The mouse serum suspension of the test compound was administered using either physiological saline (manufactured by Hikari Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) or glucose solution (manufactured by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) as a solvent. Next, based on the determined MTD value, 1/2 of that amount was administered for 3 days from the tail vein for 3 consecutive days (n = 3). Symptoms were observed up to 6 hours after each administration. After observing neurotoxicity, autopsy was performed and findings were taken on major organs. It is clear that the compound of the present invention has low toxicity and does not show neurotoxicity and has excellent properties as a constituent lipid of liposomes for contrast agents.
Compound: MTD (mg / kg); neurotoxicity (“-” indicates negative neurotoxicity, “+” indicates positive neurotoxicity)
Compound 1-1: 400 mg / kg;
Compound 1-2: 400 mg / kg;
Compound 1-8: 400 mg / kg;
Compound 4-2: 400 mg / kg;

Claims (18)

The following general formula (I):

[Wherein, A represents an oxygen atom or a single bond; L represents a divalent linking group or a single bond whose main chain is composed of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and A and L represent a single bond at the same time. None; Ste is the following general formula (II):

A hydrocarbon group containing a steroid skeleton represented by the above as a partial structure], or a salt thereof. Ste is represented by the following general formula (III) or (IV):

The compound according to claim 1, or a salt thereof. The compound according to claim 1 or 2, wherein A is an oxygen atom, or a salt thereof. The compound according to any one of claims 1 to 3, or a salt thereof, wherein at least one of fluorine atoms constituting the compound is ¹⁸ F. The liposome which contains the compound or its salt as described in any one of Claims 1-4 as a membrane component. The liposome according to claim 5, comprising phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine as membrane constituents. An MRI contrast agent comprising the liposome according to claim 5 or 6. The MRI contrast agent according to claim 7 for use in imaging of vascular diseases. The MRI contrast agent according to claim 7, which is used for imaging of vascular smooth muscle cells abnormally proliferated under the influence of foamed macrophages. The MRI contrast agent according to claim 7 for imaging a tissue or a diseased site where macrophages are localized. The MRI contrast medium according to claim 10, wherein the tissue in which macrophages are localized is selected from the group consisting of liver, spleen, alveoli, lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, and kidney epithelium. The MRI contrast agent according to claim 10, wherein the disease site where the macrophages are localized is selected from the group consisting of a tumor, an inflammation site, and an infection site. A PET contrast agent comprising the liposome according to claim 5 or 6. The PET contrast agent according to claim 13 for use in imaging of vascular diseases. The PET contrast agent according to claim 13, which is used for imaging of vascular smooth muscle cells abnormally proliferated under the influence of foamed macrophages. The PET contrast agent according to claim 13 for imaging a tissue or a diseased site where macrophages are localized. The PET contrast agent according to claim 16, wherein the tissue in which macrophages are localized is selected from the group consisting of liver, spleen, alveoli, lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, and kidney epithelium. The PET contrast agent according to claim 16, wherein the disease site where the macrophages are localized is selected from the group consisting of a tumor, an inflammatory site, and an infected site.