Lectin-Gd-loaded chitosan hydrogel nanoparticles: a new biospecific contrast agent for MRI.
Non-specific extracellular contrast agents have been on the market for more than 15 years. Here, we report on the synthesis of new selective lectin-gadolinium (Gd)-loaded chitosan nanoparticles with a prolonged clearance time and a much higher relaxivity in comparison to other preparations.



Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared from 85% deacetylated chitin by glutaraldehyde cross-linking of an aqueous acetic acid dispersion of chitosan in a mixture of n-hexane using sodium bis(ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate as a surfactant.



Several crucial parameters, namely, the Gd and protein content of the nanoparticles, their size and dispersity were determined. Magnetic resonance measurements were carried out by intravenous perfusion of mono-disperse suspensions of the nanoparticles into mice.



Chitosan nanoparticles can be used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They are excellent candidates for controlled delivery of bioactive compounds to molecular targets and as biospecific diagnostic tools in MRI.
Pashkunova-Martic
Irena
I
Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 42, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Kremser
Christian
C
Galanski
M S
MS
Arion
Vladimir
V
Debbage
Paul
P
Jaschke
Werner
W
Keppler
Bernhard
B
D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles
D003287:Contrast Media; D020100:Hydrogels; D037102:Lectins; D048271:Chitosan; D005682:Gadolinium
Magn Reson Med. 2000 Sep;44(3):433-9
10975896
Magn Reson Med. 1993 May;29(5):616-22
8505897
Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2002 Feb 21;54(2):235-52
11897148
J Magn Reson Imaging. 1997 Jan-Feb;7(1):68-74
9039595
Acad Radiol. 2002 Aug;9 Suppl 2:S330-1
12188265
Magn Reson Med. 1994 Jan;31(1):1-8
8121264
Magn Reson Med. 1993 May;29(5):599-604
8505895
J Control Release. 1998 Jan 2;50(1-3):215-23
9685888
Acad Radiol. 1998 Apr;5 Suppl 1:S173-6; discussion S183-4
9561074
Circulation. 2002 Nov 26;106(22):2842-7
12451012
Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 1999 Apr 5;37(1-3):1-12
10837723
J Control Release. 2001 Jul 6;74(1-3):317-23
11489513
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2000 Oct 1;18(3-4):293-299
10915951
Eur J Cell Biol. 1990 Feb;51(1):85-95
2328740
Acad Radiol. 1998 Apr;5 Suppl 1:S133-6; discussion S145-6
9561063
J Magn Reson Imaging. 2002 Oct;16(4):388-93
12353254
Cancer Res. 1990 Nov 15;50(22):7376-81
2224865
Biomaterials. 1995 Jul;16(10):769-75
7492707
Histochem Cell Biol. 2000 Oct;114(4):259-75
11131091
J Microencapsul. 2002 Mar-Apr;19(2):173-80
11837972
Magn Reson Imaging. 1991;9(3):373-7
1881256
J Magn Reson Imaging. 2002 Oct;16(4):394-406
12353255
Radiology. 1996 Mar;198(3):813-8
8628876
Circulation. 2001 Sep 11;104(11):1280-5
11551880
Magn Reson Med. 2000 Dec;44(6):867-72
11108623
Bioconjug Chem. 2002 Jan-Feb;13(1):122-7
11792187
Histochem Cell Biol. 2005 Mar;123(3):283-301
15824918
Invest Radiol. 1987 Aug;22(8):665-71
3667174
Bioconjug Chem. 2000 Nov-Dec;11(6):941-6
11087345
MAGMA. 2001 May;12(2-3):135-40
11390269