Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Micron-sized magnetic particles were induced to aggregate when placed in homogeneous magnetic fields, like those of MR imagers and relaxometers, and then spontaneously returned to their dispersed state when removed from the field. Associated with the aggregation and dispersion of the magnetic particles were time-dependent increases and decreases in the spin-spin relaxation time (T2) of the water. Magnetic nanoparticles, with far smaller magnetic moments per particle, did not undergo magnetically induced aggregation and exhibited time-independent values of T2.

PURPOSE: To quantitate and characterize the expression of an engineered human transferrin receptor (ETR) as a marker gene by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

The determination of brain tumor margins both during the presurgical planning phase and during surgical resection has long been a challenging task in the therapy of brain tumor patients. Using a model of gliosarcoma with stably green fluorescence protein-expressing 9L glioma cells, we explored a multimodal (near-infrared fluorescent and magnetic) nanoparticle as a preoperative magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent and intraoperative optical probe.

Annexin V, which recognizes the phosphatidylserine of apoptotic cells, was conjugated to crosslinked iron oxide (CLIO) nanoparticles, a functionalized superparamagnetic preparation developed for target-specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The resulting nanoparticle had an average of 2.7 annexin V proteins linked per CLIO nanoparticle through disulfide bonds. Using camptothecin to induce apoptosis, a mixture of Jurkat T cells (69% healthy and 31% apoptotic) was incubated with annexin V-CLIO and was applied to magnetic columns.

Surface modification of superparamagnetic contrast agents with HIV-1 tat peptide has emerged as a promising means for intracellular magnetic labeling and noninvasive tracking of a large number of cell types with MRI. To achieve efficient intracellular delivery of the nanoparticles, we investigated the effect on cellular uptake of superparamagnetic iron oxide particles by varying the number of attached tat peptides. First, we report here a modified P2T method in measuring the numbers of surface attachments per particle through disulfide linkage.

Covalent conjugates of the cross-linked iron oxide nanoparticles (CLIO) and high-affinity (K(d)(app) = 8.5 nM) anti-human E-selectin (CD62E) F(ab')(2) fragments were prepared and tested in vitro to establish feasibility of endothelial proinflammatory marker magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The conjugates were obtained by using thiol-disulfide exchange reaction between 3-(2-pyridyl)propionyl-CLIO and S-acetylthioacetate-modified F(ab')(2) fragments.

Lymph node size, the accumulation of a nodal lymphotrophic contrast agent (LCDIO), and MRI were compared as methods for detecting nodal metastases in an experimental murine model. Lymph node metastases (B16-F1 melanoma expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) and C57BL/6 mice) were generated to obtain a wide spectrum of nodes, including normal nodes and nodes bearing micrometastases, small metastases, or large metastases.

Biocompatible magnetic nanosensors have been designed to detect molecular interactions in biological media. Upon target binding, these nanosensors cause changes in the spin-spin relaxation times of neighboring water molecules, which can be detected by magnetic resonance (NMR/MRI) techniques. These magnetic nanosensors have been designed to detect specific mRNA, proteins, enzymatic activity, and pathogens (e.g., virus) with sensitivity in the low femtomole range (0.5-30 fmol).