Abstract: Designing All-Organic MRI Contrast Particles Which Produce Contrast through Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (2008 Annual Meeting)

Thursday, November 20, 2008: 8:30 AM

Room 104-A (Pennsylvania Convention Center)

Michael T. McMahon, F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD

Yah-el Har-el, Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Guanshu Liu, F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD

Christopher Long, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Assaf A. Gilad, Russell H. Morgan Dept. of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Marco A. Deliso, F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD

George Sgouros, Russell H. Morgan Dept. of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Balitmore, MD

Jeff W.M. Bulte, Russell H. Morgan Dept. of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Peter C.M. van Zijl, F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD

Paramagnetic and Super-Paramagnetic metal-based nanoparticles have been developed previously as MR contrast agents, and are in use for the imaging of drug delivery, gene therapy as well as to highlight processes such as plaque formation in blood vessels. We are now augmenting this library of agents with new liposome based MR particles consisting of lipids, cholesterol and either amino acids or carbohydrates and without metals. These particles can be selectively activated by frequency-specific RF irradiation, with the contrast produced due to chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) from exchangeable protons to water. In addition, these particles can be distinguished by the saturation frequency dependence of their sugar or amino acid content. We have injected these particles into the feet of mice, and imaged their trafficking to the popliteal lymph nodes. This trafficking was confirmed by incorporation of 111In-Cl into the liposomal lumen and obtaining SPECT-CT images.

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See more of this Session: Nanotechnology for in Vivo and in Vitro Imaging
See more of this Group/Topical: Nanoscale Science and Engineering Forum