Transferrin-coated gadolinium nanoparticles as MRI contrast agent.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, the contrasting properties of human serum albumin nanoparticles (HSA-NPs) loaded with gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) and coated with transferrin in MRI in mice are evaluated.


METHODS
HSA-NPs were conjugated with Gd-DTPA (Gd-HSA-NPs) and coupled with transferrin (Gd-HSA-NP-Tf). Mice underwent MRI before or after injection of Gd-DTPA, Gd-HSA-NP, or Gd-HSA-NP-Tf.


RESULTS
All the studied contrast agents provided a contrast enhancement (CE) in the blood, heart muscle, and liver. Compared to Gd-DTPA, CE with HSA-NP was achieved at lower Gd doses. Gd-HSA-NP-Tf yielded significantly higher CE than Gd-HSA-NP in the skeletal muscle, blood, cardiac muscle, and liver (p < 0.05). Gd-HSA-NP-Tf achieved a significantly higher CE than Gd-HSA-NP and Gd-DTPA in the blood, cardiac muscle, and liver (p < 0.05). In the brain, only Gd-HSA-NP-Tf was found to cause a significant CE (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The Gd-HSA nanoparticles have potential as MRI contrast agents. In particular, Gd-HSA-NP-Tf has a potential as a specific contrast agent for the brain, while the blood-brain barrier is still intact, as well as in the heart, liver, and skeletal muscle.
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. huedayi.korkusuz@kgu.de
Huedayi
H
Korkusuz
Karsten
K
Ulbrich
Katerina
K
Welzel
Verena
V
Koeberle
Waralee
W
Watcharin
Ute
U
Bahr
Valery
V
Chernikov
Thomas
T
Knobloch
Sabine
S
Petersen
Frank
F
Huebner
Hanns
H
Ackermann
Svetlana
S
Gelperina
Wolfgang
W
Kromen
Renate
R
Hammerstingl
Joerg
J
Haupenthal
Frank
F
Gruenwald
Jens
J
Fiehler
Stefan
S
Zeuzem
Joerg
J
Kreuter
Thomas J
TJ
Vogl
Albrecht
A
Piiper
D000418:Albumins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014168:Transferrin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D000418:Albumins; D003287:Contrast Media; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014168:Transferrin; C058946:albumin-(gadolinium-DTPA); D019786:Gadolinium DTPA