Calcium-dependent molecular fMRI using a magnetic nanosensor.

ABSTRACT: Calcium ions are ubiquitous signalling molecules in all multicellular organisms, where they mediate diverse aspects of intracellular and extracellular communication over widely varying temporal and spatial scales ¹ . Though techniques to map calcium-related activity at a high resolution by optical means are well established, there is currently no reliable method to measure calcium dynamics over large volumes in intact tissue ² . Here, we address this need by introducing a family of magnetic calcium-responsive nanoparticles (MaCaReNas) that can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MaCaReNas respond within seconds to [Ca²⁺] changes in the 0.1-1.0 mM range, suitable for monitoring extracellular calcium signalling processes in the brain. We show tha

SUBMITTER: Okada S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6086382 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature