title: Functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes containing traces of iron as new negative MRI contrast agents for in vivo imaging.
abstract: Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) containing traces of iron oxide were functionalized by noncovalent lipid-PEG or covalent carboxylic acid function to supply new efficient MRI contrast agents for in vitro and in vivo applications. Longitudinal (r(1)) and transversal (r(2)) water proton relaxivities were measured at 300 MHz, showing a stronger T(2) feature as an MRI contrast agent (r(2)/r(1)  = 190 for CO(2) H functionalisation). The r(2) relaxivity was demonstrated to be correlated to the presence of iron oxide in the SWNT-carboxylic function COOH, in comparison to iron-free ones. Biodistribution studies on mice after a systemic injection showed a negative MRI contrast in liver, suggesting the presence of the nanotubes in this organ until 48 h after i.v. injection. The presence of carbon nanotubes in liver was confirmed after ex vivo carbon extraction. Finally, cytotoxicity studies showed no apparent effect owing to the presence of the carbon nanotubes. The functionalized carbon nanotubes were well tolerated by the animals at the dose of 10 µg g(-1) body weight.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Pharmacologie Chimique et Génétique et d'Imagerie, Chimie ParisTech, Université Paris Descartes, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, CNRS UMR 8151, Inserm U1022, Paris, F-75270 cedex, France. bich-thuy-doan@chimie-paristech.fr
authors.forename: Bich-Thuy
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Doan
authors.forename: Johanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seguin
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breton
authors.forename: Ronan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Le Beherec
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bessodes
authors.forename: Julio A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Manzo
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Banhart
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Beloeil
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scherman
authors.forename: Cyrille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D003287:Contrast Media; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D007501:Iron