Superparamagnetic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles as T ₂ contrast agent in MRI: in vitro study

Abstract

Superparamagnetic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CoFe 2 O 4) possess favourite advantages for theranostic applications. Most of previous studies reported that CoFe 2 O 4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are suitable candidates for induction of hyperthermia and transfection agents for drug delivery. The present study synthesized and investigated the potential use of CoFe 2 O 4 as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by using a conventional MRI system. The CoFe 2 O 4 were synthesized using co-precipitation method and characterized by TEM, XRD, FTIR, EDX and VSM techniques. Relaxivities r 1 and r 2 of CoFe 2 O 4 were then calculated using a 1.5 Tesla clinical magnetic field. The cytotoxicity of CoFe 2 O 4 was evaluated by the MTT assay. Finally, the optimal concentrations of MNPs for MRI uses were calculated through the analysis of T 2 weighted imaging cell phantoms. The superparamagnetic CoFe2O4 NPs with an average stable size of 10.45 nm were synthesized. Relaxivity r 1 , 2 calculations resulted in suitable r 2 and r 2 / r 1 with values of 58.6 and 51 that confirmed the size dependency on relaxivity values. The optimal concentration of MNPs for MR image acquisition was calculated as 0.154 mM. Conclusion: CoFe 2 O 4 synthesized in this study could be considered as a suitable T 2 weighted contrast agent because of its high r 2 /r 1 value. 2 Material and methods 2.1 Materials Co (II) and Fe (III) were purchased from Aldrich, Scharlau and Alfa Aesar. NaOH was obtained from Merck. MTT (3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) was purchased from Sigma Aldrich. Agarose gel and deionised water (DI water) were used during the tests. 2.2 Preparation of CoFe 2 O 4 MNPs CoFe 2 O 4 MNPs were synthesised by co-precipitation method in an alkaline aqueous environment. The reaction mixture was prepared from iron sulphate (Fe 2 (SO 4) 3 salts) and cobalt chloride (CoCl 2 salt) with 0.1 M concentration of metal salts. All components of the reaction mixture were deoxygenated with nitrogen gas before mixing. In the next step, 5.0 M NaOH solution was added with vigorously stirring of mixing reaction until reaching a pH of 12.4. The obtained solution was then replaced while stirring at 80°C for

Synthesis and potent antimicrobial activity of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles under visible light

“…The analysis indicated a survival rate of more than 50% for the maximum concentration of 0.06 mg/ml. Based on the results of previous studies demonstrated the cytotoxicity of CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles of almost 90% for the maximum concentration of 0.75 and 1 mg/ml [ 54 , 55 ], the achieved data represented that the synthesized CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles led to concentration-dependent cell death where the enhancement in concentration involved a remarkable reduction in cell proliferation. .…”

Investigation of Specific Targeting of Triptorelin-Conjugated Dextran-Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles as a Targeted Probe in GnRH+ Cancer Cells in MRI

“…However, slightly higher sizes could be optimal for the enhancement of the r 2 relaxivity [ 35 , 36 ]. In addition, the small-sized SPIONs increased the surface-to-volume ratio, and thus the increased dead layer component decreased magnetization ( M S ) [ 37 ].…”

The Promise of Metal-Doped Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial Agent

“…The optimum concentration of doped-IONPs within a nontoxic concentration range was 0.154 mM reported by Mohammadi et al (2020). 88 These doped-IONPs demonstrate high T2 relaxivity, biodistribution, and long circulation time. 88,90 IONPs doped with transition metal are also employed to minimize the size of superparamagnetic contrast agents while retaining an excellent MRI contrast efficiency.…”

“…88 These doped-IONPs demonstrate high T2 relaxivity, biodistribution, and long circulation time. 88,90 IONPs doped with transition metal are also employed to minimize the size of superparamagnetic contrast agents while retaining an excellent MRI contrast efficiency. 91 A recent study by Nowicka et al (2023) 92 reported magnetic IONPs doped with magnesium have demonstrated outstanding potential for magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) in lung cancer treatments.…”

“…Doped-IONPs have diverse applications in various fields of biomedicinefor instance, in MRI, , visualization and diagnostics, cancer therapy with magnetic hyperthermia, photodynamic therapy, development of biosensors, environmental remedies, and tissue engineering , ­(Figure ). Recently, experimental biomedical imaging field has gotten more focused on the fabrication of novel contrast agents with multimodal and versatile features of doped-IONPs. , In a standard MRI system, doped-IONPs can be employed at low concentrations as suitable negative contrast agents. ,− Additionally, doped-IONPs are ideal for cell labeling as perspective contrast agents. The optimum concentration of doped-IONPs within a nontoxic concentration range was 0.154 mM reported by Mohammadi et al (2020) .…”