title: Folic acid-conjugated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for tumor-targeting MR imaging.
abstract: Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been the subject of extensive research due to their potential biomedical applications. In the present investigation, superparamagnetic FA-PEI-Fe3O4 were successfully prepared and evaluated as a targeted MRI contrast agent. FTIR characteristics, TGA, VSM, and MR imaging confirmed the composition and magnetic properties of the synthesized nanoparticles. TEM showed that FA-PEI-Fe3O4 were spherical in shape and well dispersed. The nanoparticles were superparamagnetic at room temperature with a saturation magnetization value of 67.1 emu/g. The nanoparticles showed higher uptake efficiency due to receptor-mediated endocytosis. Moreover, specificity of FA-PEI-Fe3O4 to target tumor cells was demonstrated by the increased nanoparticle uptake and significant contrast enhancement of KB cells over MCF7 cells. The competitive inhibition of FA-PEI-Fe3O4 by free FA further confirmed the specific interaction of this conjugate with FA receptors. In vivo MR imaging studies showed a decreased signal intensity and enhanced tumor contrast post-injection of FA-PEI-Fe3O4. These results indicate that FA-PEI-Fe3O4 can be used as a promising tumor-targeting agent as well as a T2 negative-contrast agent in MR imaging applications.
authors.affiliation: a CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety , Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , China .|b Suzhou Science and Technology Town Hostipal , Jiangsu Province , Suzhou , China .
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: c Lvliang People's Hospital , Shanxi Province , Lvliang , China .
authors.forename: Fumei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: d Patent Examination Cooperation Jiangsu Center of the Patent Office, SIPO , Jiangsu Province , Suzhou , China , and.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: b Suzhou Science and Technology Town Hostipal , Jiangsu Province , Suzhou , China .
authors.forename: Xueliang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: e Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging, Department of Engineering Physics , Ministry of Education, Institute of Medical Physics and Engineering, Tsinghua University , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: e Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging, Department of Engineering Physics , Ministry of Education, Institute of Medical Physics and Engineering, Tsinghua University , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Jintian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: a CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety , Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , China .
authors.forename: Xueyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: a CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety , Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , China .
authors.forename: Fuping
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008280:Magnetics; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: Fe3O4; MR imaging; magnetic nanoparticles; poly(ethyleneimine); tumor targeting