Paramagnetic liposomes as innovative contrast agents for magnetic resonance (MR) molecular imaging applications.
This article illustrates some innovative applications of liposomes loaded with paramagnetic lanthanide-based complexes in MR molecular imaging field. When a relatively high amount of a Gd(III) chelate is encapsulated in the vesicle, the nanosystem can simultaneously affect both the longitudinal (R(1)) and the transverse (R(2)) relaxation rate of the bulk H2O H-atoms, and this finding can be exploited to design improved thermosensitive liposomes whose MRI response is not longer dependent on the concentration of the probe. The observation that the liposome compartmentalization of a paramagnetic Ln(III) complex induce a significant R(2) enhancement, primarily caused by magnetic susceptibility effects, prompted us to test the potential of such agents in cell-targeting MR experiments. The results obtained indicated that these nanoprobes may have a great potential for the MR visualization of cellular targets (like the glutamine membrane transporters) overexpressing in tumor cells. Liposomes loaded with paramagnetic complexes acting as NMR shift reagents have been recently proposed as highly sensitive CEST MRI agents. The main peculiarity of CEST probes is to allow the MR visualization of different agents present in the same region of interest, and this article provides an illustrative example of the in vivo potential of liposome-based CEST agents.
Terreno
Enzo
E
Department of Chemistry IFM and Molecular Imaging Center, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 7, I-10125, Torino (phone: +39-011-6706452; fax: +39-011-6706487).
Delli Castelli
Daniela
D
Department of Chemistry IFM and Molecular Imaging Center, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 7, I-10125, Torino (phone: +39-011-6706452; fax: +39-011-6706487).
Cabella
Claudia
C
CRM Bracco Imaging S.p.A., c/o Bioindustry Park Canavese, Via Ribes 5, I-10010 Colleretto Giacosa (TO).
Dastrù
Walter
W
Department of Chemistry IFM and Molecular Imaging Center, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 7, I-10125, Torino (phone: +39-011-6706452; fax: +39-011-6706487).
Sanino
Alberto
A
Department of Chemistry IFM and Molecular Imaging Center, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 7, I-10125, Torino (phone: +39-011-6706452; fax: +39-011-6706487).
Stancanello
Joseph
J
CRM Bracco Imaging S.p.A., c/o Bioindustry Park Canavese, Via Ribes 5, I-10010 Colleretto Giacosa (TO).
Tei
Lorenzo
L
Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università del Piemonte Orientale 'Amedeo Avogadro', Via Bellini 25/G, I-15100 Alessandria.
Aime
Silvio
S
Department of Chemistry IFM and Molecular Imaging Center, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 7, I-10125, Torino (phone: +39-011-6706452; fax: +39-011-6706487).
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004355:Drug Stability; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D028581:Lanthanoid Series Elements / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000175:diagnosis; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D003287:Contrast Media; D028581:Lanthanoid Series Elements; D010743:Phospholipids; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes