title: Biocompatible KMnF3 nanoparticular contrast agent with proper plasma retention time for in vivo magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Nanoparticular MRI contrast agents are rapidly becoming suitable for use in clinical diagnosis. An ideal nanoparticular contrast agent should be endowed with high relaxivity, biocompatibility, proper plasma retention time, and tissue-specific or tumor-targeting imaging. Herein we introduce PEGylated KMnF3 nanoparticles as a new type of T1 contrast agent. Studies showed that the nanoparticular contrast agent revealed high bio-stability with bovine serum albumin in PBS buffer solution, and presented excellent biocompatibility (low cytotoxicity, undetectable hemolysis and hemagglutination). Meanwhile the new contrast agent possessed proper plasma retention time (circulation half-life t1/2 is approximately 2 h) in the body of the administrated mice. It can be delivered into brain vessels and maintained there for hours, and is mostly cleared from the body within 48 h, as demonstrated by time-resolved MRI and Mn-biodistribution analysis. Those distinguishing features make it suitable to obtain contrast-enhanced brain magnetic resonance angiography. Moreover, through the process of passive targeting delivery, the T1 contrast agent clearly illuminates a brain tumor (glioma) with high contrast image and defined shape. This study demonstrates that PEGylated KMnF3 nanoparticles represent a promising biocompatible vascular contrast agent for magnetic resonance angiography and can potentially be further developed into an active targeted tumor MRI contrast agent.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Advanced Study, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhi-jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-xia
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Xian-zhu
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002417:Cattle; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D011188:Potassium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D008345:Manganese; D005459:Fluorides; D011188:Potassium