Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as a dual imaging probe for targeting hepatocytes in vivo.
Hepatocyte-specific targeting agents are useful for evaluation of the hepatocytic function and the monitoring of disease progress. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) bearing terminal galactose groups exhibit a high affinity for the asialoglycoprotein receptor on the hepatocyte surface. In this study, we synthesized and characterized the dual probe SPION detectable by both nuclear and MR imaging modality for specifically targeting hepatocytes in vivo. SPION with 12-nm diameter were functionalized with dopamine. Surface modification of the SPION was performed to target asialoglycoprotein receptor on hepatocytes, using lactobionic acid. Transmission electron microscope images demonstrated that SPION displayed highly uniform characteristics in terms of both particle size and shape. The X-ray diffraction pattern of SPION revealed a nanocrystal structure of magnetite. To radiolabel the magnetite with (99m)Tc, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid was conjugated to unreacted functional groups of dopamine. (99m)Tc-labeled lactobionic acid-SPION showed high accumulation in liver, with 38.43 +/- 6.45% injected dose per gram. In MR imaging, the reduction of the T(2) signal in the liver by lactobionic acid-SPION was approximately 50.8 +/- 7.3%. Competition studies and transmission electron microscope images of liver tissues demonstrated that the lactobionic acid-SPION were localized in hepatocytes. Therefore, the lactobionic acid-SPION may be used as a hepatocyte-targeted dual contrast agent for both nuclear and MR imaging.
Lee
Chang-Moon
CM
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jellabuk-Do, Republic of Korea.
Jeong
Hwan-Jeong
HJ
Kim
Eun-Mi
EM
Kim
Dong Wook
DW
Lim
Seok Tae
ST
Kim
Hyoung Tae
HT
Park
In-Kyu
IK
Jeong
Yong Yeon
YY
Kim
Jin Woong
JW
Sohn
Myung-Hee
MH
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003287:Contrast Media; D004187:Disaccharides; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques; D053758:Nanoparticles
D003287:Contrast Media; D004187:Disaccharides; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide; C005608:lactobionic acid