title: In vitro characterization of an Fe(8) cluster as potential MRI contrast agent.
abstract: The complex [(tacn)(6)Fe(8)(micro(3)-O)(2)(micro(2)-OH)(12)]Br(8).9H(2)O (Fe(8)) was evaluated in vitro as a new kind of possible MRI contrast agent. Relaxivities were measured at 1.41 and 9.4 T for Fe(8) and commercial Gd-DTPA dissolved in PBS. There was significant difference for r(1) and r(2) values between Fe(8) and Gd-DTPA at high field (9.4 T) and for r(1) at low field (1.4 T) (p<0.05). Phantom studies with T(1)-weighted MRI at 9.4 T suggest T(1) contrast potential for Fe(8). That is, up to 5.2 times higher intensity enhancement with respect to that of equimolar Gd-DTPA was obtained with an Fe(8) concentration, referred to the whole molecule, of 0.2 mM, for which no toxicity on C6 cells could be detected. No toxic effects on cultured C6 cells were observed up to a concentration of 1 mM Fe(8).
authors.affiliation: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain. elisenda@icmab.es
authors.forename: Elisenda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roig
authors.forename: Elies
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molins
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arús
authors.forename: María Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Quintero
authors.forename: Miquel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cabañas
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cerdán
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lopez-Larrubia
authors.forename: Coral
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanfeliu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D058085:Iron Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D058085:Iron Compounds