title: Characterization of ferucarbotran-loaded RBCs as long circulating magnetic contrast agents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The biomedical application of contrast agents based on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles is still limited because of their short intravascular half-life. The potential of red blood cells (RBCs) loaded with new ferucarbotran nanoparticles as magnetic contrast agents with longer blood retention time has been investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ferucarbotran was loaded into RBCs by a procedure of hypotonic dialysis and isotonic resealing. Ferucarbotran amounts encapsulated in RBCs were determined by NMR. The survival of ferucarbotran-loaded RBCs and bulk ferucarbotran was evaluated in the mouse bloodstream.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood retention time of these RBC constructs is longer (∼14 days) than the bulk ferucarbotran (∼1 h) with a slower Fe clearance from liver and spleen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ferucarbotran-loaded RBCs could be used as potential contrasting agents for diagnostic applications in MRI/magnetic particle imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 2, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 2, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sfara
authors.affiliation: Philips Medical Systems DMC GmbH, Röntgenstraβe 24-26, D-22335 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CC7, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pison
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Histopathology and Clinical Chemistry, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Via Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia (PG), Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manuali
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Histopathology and Clinical Chemistry, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Via Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia (PG), Italy.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salamida
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Saffi 2, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnani
keywords: ferucarbotran; magnetic particle imaging; magnetic particle spectroscopy; magnetic resonance imaging; red blood cells; superparamagnetic iron oxides