Distance-dependent magnetic resonance tuning as a versatile MRI sensing platform for biological targets.
Nanoscale distance-dependent phenomena, such as Förster resonance energy transfer, are important interactions for use in sensing and imaging, but their versatility for bioimaging can be limited by undesirable photon interactions with the surrounding biological matrix, especially in in vivo systems. Here, we report a new type of magnetism-based nanoscale distance-dependent phenomenon that can quantitatively and reversibly sense and image intra-/intermolecular interactions of biologically important targets. We introduce distance-dependent magnetic resonance tuning (MRET), which occurs between a paramagnetic 'enhancer' and a superparamagnetic 'quencher', where the T1magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal is tuned ON or OFF depending on the separation distance between the quencher and the enhancer. With MRET, we demonstrate the principle of an MRI-based ruler for nanometre-scale distance measurement and the successful detection of both molecular interactions (for example, cleavage, binding, folding and unfolding) and biological targets in in vitro and in vivo systems. MRET can serve as a novel sensing principle to augment the exploration of a wide range of biological systems.
Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.|Yonsei-IBS Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.|Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
Jin-Sil
JS
Choi
Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.|Yonsei-IBS Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.|Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
Soojin
S
Kim
Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.|Yonsei-IBS Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
Dongwon
D
Yoo
Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.|Yonsei-IBS Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.|Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
Tae-Hyun
TH
Shin
Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.|Yonsei-IBS Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.|Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
Hoyoung
H
Kim
Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.|Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Muller D
MD
Gomes
Western Seoul Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea.
Sun Hee
SH
Kim
Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.|Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Alexander
A
Pines
Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.|Yonsei-IBS Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.|Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
Jinwoo
J
Cheon
D060328:Magnetic Phenomena; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2