Session Speaker

Evaluation of Iron Based Core Nanoparticles as Targeted Contrast Agents for Molecular IR and MR Imaging of Gliomas
B. Blasiak, B. Tomanek, T. Foniok, D. Rushforth, R. MacKenzie, A. Abulrob, U. Iqbal, H. Albanghdadi, D. Stanimirovic, D. Ponjevic, J. Matyas, G. Sutherland
Canada

Standard clinical MRI fails to detect gliomas in their early development stages. Therefore, application of molecular sensing would ensure earlier and more accurate diagnosis, individualized therapies and improved monitoring of the patient's response to treatment. Ideal contrast agents (c.a.) used in molecular imaging are delivered only to specific cells and are easily detectable with MRI.

Therefore, we investigated magnetic and biochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) comprising iron oxide (Fe3O4) and iron cobalt (FeCo) core with SiO2 and Au shell. To render specificity of the c.a. high grade glioma specific single domain antibodies were conjugated with NPs and IR markers (Cy 5.5.) using amine-functionalized PEG coating (NP-PEG-NH2).

For in vivo MRI study, we used the intracranial injection of U87MG deltaEGFR cells to nude mice, as a model of human high grade glioma. The IR and T2-weighted MR images were collected before, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after the injection of the contrast agent. 9.4T MRI system was applied to measure T2 values of the tumor using single exponential fitting of the echo train.

Using IR and MRI we have shown the efficacy of the new contrast agents, thus potential suitability for the early detection of gliomas in the brain.