Journal Article

Exceedingly small iron oxide nanoparticles as positive MRI contrast agents

Farrar, Christian T., Wiśniowska, Agata, Li, Nan, Ittrich, Harald, Bruns, Oliver T., Kaul, Michael G., Okada, Satoshi, Chen, Yue, Jasanoff, Alan, Barch, Mariya, Adam, Gerhard, Cordero, Jose M., Chen, Ou, Heine, Markus, Nielsen, Peter, Montana, Daniel M., Wei, He, Hansen, Eric C., Bawendi, Moungi G.

2017

Overview

Medical imaging is routine in the diagnosis and staging of a wide range of medical conditions. In particular, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is critical for visualizing soft tissue and organs, with over 60 million MRI procedures performed each year worldwide. About one-third of these procedures are contrast-enhanced MRI, and gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are the mainstream MRI contrast agents used in the clinic. GBCAs have shown efficacy and are safe to use with most patients; however, some GBCAs have a small risk of adverse effects, including nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), the untreatable condition recently linked to gadolinium (Gd) exposure during MRI with contrast. In addition, Gd deposition in the human brain has been reported following contrast, and this is now under investigation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To address a perceived need for a Gd-free contrast agent with pharmacokinetic and imaging properties comparable to GBCAs, we have designed and developed zwitterion-coated exceedingly small superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (ZES-SPIONs) consisting of ∼3-nm inorganic cores and ∼1-nm ultrathin hydrophilic shell. These ZES-SPIONs are free of Gd and show a high T₁ contrast power. We demonstrate the potential of ZES-SPIONs in preclinical MRI and magnetic resonance angiography.

• Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
• Subject: Albumins - chemistry / Albumins - pharmacokinetics / Animals / Biological Sciences / Chemical compounds / Chemistry / Contrast agents / Contrast Media - chemistry / Contrast Media - pharmacokinetics / Ferrosoferric Oxide - chemistry / Ferrosoferric Oxide - pharmacokinetics / Ferrosoferric Oxide - urine / Gadolinium / Gadolinium DTPA - chemistry / Gadolinium DTPA - pharmacokinetics / Gadolinium DTPA - urine / Humans / Iron oxides / Magnetic Resonance Imaging - instrumentation / Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods / Magnetite Nanoparticles - administration & dosage / Magnetite Nanoparticles - chemistry / Medical Sciences / Mice / Nanoparticles / NMR / Nuclear magnetic resonance / Oleic Acid - chemistry / Particle Size / Pharmacokinetics / Physical Sciences / Tissue Distribution