title: In vivo long-term magnetic resonance imaging activity of ferritin-based magnetic nanoparticles versus a standard contrast agent.
abstract: New long-circulating maghemite nanoparticles of 4 and 6 nm, coated with an apoferritin protein capsid, exhibit useful properties to act as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. A full in vivo study of the so-called apomaghemites reveals that their long-term MRI properties are better than those of a standard superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) widely used in biomedical applications. The biodistribution of apomaghemites and standard SPIO was investigated by MRI in mice at two different concentrations, 6 and 2.5 mg of Fe·kg(-1), over 60 days. Significant differences are found at low dose (2.5 mg of Fe·kg(-1)). Thus, whereas apomaghemites are active for MR bioimaging of liver for 45 days, standard SPIO is not effective beyond 7 days. On the basis of our data, we may concluded that apomaghemites can act as new long-term MRI liver contrast agents, allowing first the diagnosis of a liver pathology and then monitoring after treatment without the need for a second injection.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Instituto de Biotecnología, and ∥Departamento de Física Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada , Granada 18071, Spain.
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fiorini
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tambalo
authors.forename: Heriberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Busquier
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Callejas-Fernández
authors.forename: Pasquina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marzola
authors.forename: Natividad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gálvez
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Vera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001052:Apoferritins; D003287:Contrast Media; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D053758:Nanoparticles; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D001052:Apoferritins