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USPIO size control through microwave nonaqueous sol-gel method for neoangiogenesis T2 MRI contrast agent
Sophie Richard1, Véronique Eder2, Gianvito Caputo3,4
1Laboratoire CSPBAT, CNRS UMR 7244, UFR SMBH, Université Paris 13, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-93017 Bobigny, France.
Aim:
Tunable size ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles from 3 to 9 nm coated with polyethylene glycol phosphonate moieties have been designed for neovascularization MRI.
Materials & Methods:
USPIO were synthesized using a nonaqueous sol-gel method. An ischemia-reperfusion rat model has been chosen for neo-angiogenesis and scanned on MRI after injection of different sized USPIO. Histological studies have been performed for USPIO localization within the tissue.
Results:
The magnetic properties and consequently their MRI relaxivities are drastically dependent on the crystalline core size. In vivo MRI spots were observed specifically in the ischemic area. The best MRI contrast within neovascularization is generated by 6 nm nanoparticles proving that compromise between T2 relaxivity and physico-chemical properties is essential for the design of effective MRI contrast agent.
