title: Active-target T1-weighted MR Imaging of Tiny Hepatic Tumor via RGD Modified Ultra-small Fe3O4 Nanoprobes.
abstract: Developing ultrasensitive contrast agents for the early detection of malignant tumors in liver is highly demanded. Constructing hepatic tumors specific targeting probes could provide more sensitive imaging information but still faces great challenges. Here we report a novel approach for the synthesis of ultra-small Fe3O4 nanoparticles conjugated with c(RGDyK) and their applications as active-target T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent (T1-Fe3O4) for imaging tiny hepatic tumors in vivo. RGD-modified T1-Fe3O4 nanoprobes exhibited high r1 of 7.74 mM(-1)s(-1) and ultralow r2/r1 of 2.8 at 3 T, reflecting their excellent T1 contrast effect at clinically relevant magnetic field. High targeting specificity together with favorable biocompatibility and strong ability to resist against non-specific uptake were evaluated through in vitro studies. Owing to the outstanding properties of tumor angiogenesis targeting with little phagocytosis in liver parenchyma, hepatic tumor as small as 2.2 mm was successfully detected via the T1 contrast enhancement of RGD-modified T1-Fe3O4. It is emphasized that this is the first report on active-target T1 imaging of hepatic tumors, which could not only significantly improve diagnostic sensitivity, but also provide post therapeutic assessments for patients with liver cancer.
authors: 1. State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
authors: Zhengyang
authors: Z
authors: Jia
authors: 1. State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
authors: Lina
authors: L
authors: Song
authors: 2. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors: Fengchao
authors: F
authors: Zang
authors: 3. Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors: Jiacheng
authors: J
authors: Song
authors: 1. State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Zhang
authors: 1. State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
authors: Changzhi
authors: C
authors: Yan
authors: 1. State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Xie
authors: 3. Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors: Zhanlong
authors: Z
authors: Ma
authors: 1. State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Ma
authors: 2. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors: Gaojun
authors: G
authors: Teng
authors: 1. State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Gu
authors: 1. State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002460:Cell Line; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D009842:Oligopeptides; C000499:ferric oxide; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid
keywords: RGD-modified; T1-Fe3O4 nanoprobes; active-target; high diagnostic sensitivity; tiny hepatic tumor imaging