Real-time magnetic resonance imaging and quantification of lipoprotein metabolism in vivo using nanocrystals.
Semiconductor quantum dots and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals have physical properties that are well suited for biomedical imaging. Previously, we have shown that iron oxide nanocrystals embedded within the lipid core of micelles show optimized characteristics for quantitative imaging. Here, we embed quantum dots and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals in the core of lipoproteins--micelles that transport lipids and other hydrophobic substances in the blood--and show that it is possible to image and quantify the kinetics of lipoprotein metabolism in vivo using fluorescence and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging. The lipoproteins were taken up by liver cells in wild-type mice and displayed defective clearance in knock-out mice lacking a lipoprotein receptor or its ligand, indicating that the nanocrystals did not influence the specificity of the metabolic process. Using this strategy it is possible to study the clearance of lipoproteins in metabolic disorders and to improve the contrast in clinical imaging.
Bruns
Oliver T
OT
IBM II: Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany. o.bruns@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Ittrich
Harald
H
Peldschus
Kersten
K
Kaul
Michael G
MG
Tromsdorf
Ulrich I
UI
Lauterwasser
Joachim
J
Nikolic
Marija S
MS
Mollwitz
Birgit
B
Merkel
Martin
M
Bigall
Nadja C
NC
Sapra
Sameer
S
Reimer
Rudolph
R
Hohenberg
Heinz
H
Weller
Horst
H
Eychmüller
Alexander
A
Adam
Gerhard
G
Beisiegel
Ulrike
U
Heeren
Joerg
J
D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency; D003911:Dextrans; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010087:Oxides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D045663:Quantum Dots; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000172:deficiency; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000187:drug effects
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D003911:Dextrans; D008074:Lipoproteins; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D007501:Iron; C065507:ferumoxides; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide