Silica-coated Gd(DOTA)-loaded protein nanoparticles enable magnetic resonance imaging of macrophages.

ABSTRACT: The molecular imaging of in vivo targets allows non-invasive disease diagnosis. Nanoparticles offer a promising platform for molecular imaging because they can deliver large payloads of imaging reagents to the site of disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often preferred for clinical diagnosis because it uses non-ionizing radiation and offers both high spatial resolution and excellent penetration. We have explored the use of plant viruses as the basis of for MRI contrast reagents, specifically Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), which can assemble to form either stiff rods or spheres. We loaded TMV particles with paramagnetic Gd ions, increasing the ionic relaxivity compared to free Gd ions. The loaded TMV particles were then coated with silica maintaining high relaxivities. I

SUBMITTER: Bruckman MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4675143 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature