In vivo magnetic resonance detection of cancer by using multifunctional magnetic nanocrystals.
The unique properties of magnetic nanocrystals provide them with high potential as key probes and vectors in the next generation of biomedical applications. Although superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals have been extensively studied as excellent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes for various cell trafficking, gene expression, and cancer diagnosis, further development of in vivo MRI applications has been very limited. Here, we describe in vivo diagnosis of cancer, utilizing a well-defined magnetic nanocrystal probe system with multiple capabilities, such as small size, strong magnetism, high biocompatibility, and the possession of active functionality for desired receptors. Our magnetic nanocrystals are conjugated to a cancer-targeting antibody, Herceptin, and subsequent utilization of these conjugates as MRI probes has been successfully demonstrated for the monitoring of in vivo selective targeting events of human cancer cells implanted in live mice. Further conjugation of these nanocrystal probes with fluorescent dye-labeled antibodies enables both in vitro and ex vivo optical detection of cancer as well as in vivo MRI, which are potentially applicable for an advanced multimodal detection system. Our study finds that high performance in vivo MR diagnosis of cancer is achievable by utilizing improved and multifunctional material properties of iron oxide nanocrystal probes.
Huh
Yong-Min
YM
Yonsei Nano-Medical Core Research Center, Department of Radiology, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
Jun
Young-wook
YW
Song
Ho-Taek
HT
Kim
Sungjun
S
Choi
Jin-sil
JS
Lee
Jae-Hyun
JH
Yoon
Sarah
S
Kim
Kyung-sup
KS
Shin
Jeon-Soo
JS
Suh
Jin-Suck
JS
Cheon
Jinwoo
J
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D003460:Crystallization; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D015335:Molecular Probes; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013997:Time Factors; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D015335:Molecular Probes; C000499:ferric oxide; D000068878:Trastuzumab