Magnetomotive Molecular Nanoprobes

Abstract

Tremendous developments in the field of biomedical imaging in the past two decades have resulted in the transformation of anatomical imaging to molecular-specific imaging. The main approaches towards imaging at a molecular level are the development of high resolution imaging modalities with high penetration depths and increased sensitivity, and the development of molecular probes with high specificity. The development of novel molecular contrast agents and their success in molecular optical imaging modalities have lead to the emergence of molecular optical imaging as a more versatile and capable technique for providing morphological, spatial, and functional information at the molecular level with high sensitivity and precision, compared to other imaging modalities. In this review, we discuss a new class of dynamic contrast agents called magnetomotive molecular nanoprobes for molecular-specific imaging. Magnetomotive agents are superparamagnetic nanoparticles, typically iron-oxide, that are physically displaced by the application of a small modulating external magnetic field. Dynamic phase-sensitive position measurements are performed using any high resolution imaging modality, including optical coherence tomography (OCT), ultrasonography, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The dynamics of the magnetomotive agents can be used to extract the biomechanical tissue properties in which the nanoparticles are bound, and the agents can be used to deliver therapy via magnetomotive displacements to modulate or disrupt cell function, or hyperthermia to kill cells. These agents can be targeted via conjugation to antibodies, and in vivo targeted imaging has been shown in a carcinogen-induced rat mammary tumor model. The iron-oxide nanoparticles also exhibit negative T2 contrast in MRI, and modulations can produce ultrasound imaging contrast for multimodal imaging applications.

Molecular magnetic resonance probe targeting VEGF165: preparation and in vitro and in vivo evaluation

“…The probe should not induce a significant immune reaction or other adverse reactions. It must be fairly stable in vivo, and at the same time have a targeting moiety that allows selective binding with the target biomolecule without generating a high background in circulation (15)(16)(17)(18).…”

Свойства синтезированных методом пиролиза ультразвуковой аэрозоли наночастиц MgFe-=SUB=-2-=/SUB=-O-=SUB=-4-=/SUB=- для биомедицинских применений

“…Для свободного перемещения частиц по таким порам, размер МНЧ не должен превышать ∼ 600 nm, чтобы не допустить блокирования капиллярного кровотока (см. например [33] Рис. 1.…”

Magnetic and Plasmonic Contrast Agents in Optical Coherence Tomography

“…Here we will cover the general classes of MIOs used in MMOCT; for more detailed information, the reader is directed to a review on this topic [84]. The choice of magnetic iron oxide particle core size and coating for MMOCT should take into consideration the desired magnetic properties and targeting moieties.…”