Nanomaterials for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Biology and Medicines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 14042

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
Interests: bioimaging; MRI; X-nuclei MRI; NMR relaxometry; NMR spectroscopy; contrast agents; theranostics; metal oxides; metal–organic frameworks; biopolymers

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging modality that is well established in medical diagnostics as well as in clinical and preclinical research. With the utilization of contrast agents or theranostic materials, usually based on nanomaterials of different structures and compositions, integrated imaging research, diagnostic and treatment capabilities could be significantly enhanced. Depending on the nanomaterial properties, obtaining a positive or negative type of MRI contrast as well as switching between them is possible. Moreover, the application of MRI based on nuclei other than 1H (e.g., 19F or others) allows utilizing the “hotspot” type of contrast, based on nanomaterials containing corresponding NMR-detectable nuclei. In addition to MRI, enhanced contrast for other imaging modalities (e.g., optical and nuclear) may also be included by appropriate design of the relevant nanomaterial, thus potentially allowing for improved multimodal imaging research as well as diagnostic and treatment.  

Within this Special Issue “Nanomaterials for Magnetic Resonance Imaging”, submissions dealing with all aspects of the relevant research on the theoretical description, synthesis, characterization, testing or proof of successful application of nanomaterials, acting as MRI/multimodal contrast agents or theranostics, are welcome. We will consider original research papers, short communications and focused reviews.

Dr. Władysław P. Węglarz
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • MRI
  • nanomaterials
  • contrast agents
  • theranostics
  • hotspot imaging
  • multimodal imaging
  • cell tracking

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 2974 KiB  
Article
Bimodal Interventional Instrument Markers for Magnetic Particle Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Imaging—A Proof-of-Concept Study
by Franz Wegner, Kerstin Lüdtke-Buzug, Sjef Cremers, Thomas Friedrich, Malte M. Sieren, Julian Haegele, Martin A. Koch, Emine U. Saritas, Paul Borm, Thorsten M. Buzug, Joerg Barkhausen and Mandy Ahlborg
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(10), 1758; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12101758 - 21 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1767
Abstract
The purpose of this work was to develop instrument markers that are visible in both magnetic particle imaging (MPI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The instrument markers were based on two different magnetic nanoparticle types (synthesized in-house KLB and commercial Bayoxide E8706). Coatings [...] Read more.
The purpose of this work was to develop instrument markers that are visible in both magnetic particle imaging (MPI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The instrument markers were based on two different magnetic nanoparticle types (synthesized in-house KLB and commercial Bayoxide E8706). Coatings containing one of both particle types were fabricated and measured with a magnetic particle spectrometer (MPS) to estimate their MPI performance. Coatings based on both particle types were then applied on a segment of a nonmetallic guidewire. Imaging experiments were conducted using a commercial, preclinical MPI scanner and a preclinical 1 tesla MRI system. MPI image reconstruction was performed based on system matrices measured with dried KLB and Bayoxide E8706 coatings. The bimodal markers were clearly visible in both methods. They caused circular signal voids in MRI and areas of high signal intensity in MPI. Both the signal voids as well as the areas of high signal intensity were larger than the real marker size. Images that were reconstructed with a Bayoxide E8706 system matrix did not show sufficient MPI signal. Instrument markers with bimodal visibility are essential for the perspective of monitoring cardiovascular interventions with MPI/MRI hybrid systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
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13 pages, 3605 KiB  
Article
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Transplanted Porcine Neonatal Pancreatic Cell Clusters Labeled with Exendin-4-Conjugated Manganese Magnetism-Engineered Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
by Jyuhn-Huarng Juang, Jiun-Jie Wang, Chia-Rui Shen, Sung-Han Lin, Chen-Yi Chen, Chen-Wei Kao, Chen-Ling Chen, Shu-Ting Wu, Zei-Tsan Tsai and Yun-Ming Wang
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(7), 1222; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12071222 - 05 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1819
Abstract
Recently, we have shown that manganese magnetism-engineered iron oxide nanoparticles (MnMEIO NPs) conjugated with exendin-4 (Ex4) act as a contrast agent that directly trace implanted mouse islet β-cells by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here we further advanced this technology to track implanted porcine [...] Read more.
Recently, we have shown that manganese magnetism-engineered iron oxide nanoparticles (MnMEIO NPs) conjugated with exendin-4 (Ex4) act as a contrast agent that directly trace implanted mouse islet β-cells by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here we further advanced this technology to track implanted porcine neonatal pancreatic cell clusters (NPCCs) containing ducts, endocrine, and exocrine cells. NPCCs from one-day-old neonatal pigs were isolated, cultured for three days, and then incubated overnight with MnMEIO-Ex4 NPs. Binding of NPCCs and MnMEIO-Ex4 NPs was confirmed with Prussian blue staining in vitro prior to the transplantation of 2000 MnMEIO-Ex4 NP-labeled NPCCs beneath the left renal capsule of six nondiabetic nude mice. The 7.0 T MRI on recipients revealed persistent hypointense areas at implantation sites for up to 54 days. The MR signal intensity of the graft on left kidney reduced 62–88% compared to the mirror areas on the contralateral kidney. Histological studies showed colocalization of insulin/iron and SOX9/iron staining in NPCC grafts, indicating that MnMEIO-Ex4 NPs were taken up by mature β-cells and pancreatic progenitors. We conclude that MnMEIO-Ex4 NPs are excellent contrast agents for detecting and long-term monitoring implanted NPCCs by MRI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
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19 pages, 8135 KiB  
Article
Exendin-4-Conjugated Manganese Magnetism-Engineered Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as a Potential Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent for Tracking Transplanted β-Cells
by Jyuhn-Huarng Juang, Chia-Rui Shen, Jiun-Jie Wang, Shu-Ting Wu, Sung-Han Lin, Chen-Yi Chen, Chen-Wei Kao, Chen-Ling Chen, Zei-Tsan Tsai and Yun-Ming Wang
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 3145; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11113145 - 21 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1824
Abstract
To specifically detect and trace transplanted islet β-cells by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we conjugated manganese magnetism-engineered iron oxide nanoparticles (MnMEIO NPs) with exendin-4 (Ex4) which specifically binds glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors on the surface of β-cells. The size distribution of MnMEIO and MnMEIO-Ex4 [...] Read more.
To specifically detect and trace transplanted islet β-cells by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we conjugated manganese magnetism-engineered iron oxide nanoparticles (MnMEIO NPs) with exendin-4 (Ex4) which specifically binds glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors on the surface of β-cells. The size distribution of MnMEIO and MnMEIO-Ex4 NPs were 67.8 ± 1.3 and 70.2 ± 2.3 nm and zeta potential 33.3 ± 0.5 and 0.6 ± 0.1 mV, respectively. MnMEIO and MnMEIO-Ex4 NPs with iron content ≤ 40 μg/mL did not affect MIN6 β-cell viability and insulin secretion. Positive iron staining was found in MIN6 β-cells loaded with MnMEIO-Ex4 NPs but not in those with MnMEIO NPs. A transmission electron microscope confirmed MnMEIO-Ex4 NPs were distributed in the cytoplasm of MIN6. In vitro MR images revealed a loss of signal intensity in MIN6 β-cells labeled with MnMEIO-Ex4 NPs but not with MnMEIO NPs. After transplantation of islets labeled with MnMEIO-Ex4, the graft under kidney capsule could be visualized on MRI as persistent hypointense areas up to 17 weeks. Moreover, histology of the islet graft showed positive staining for insulin, glucagon and iron. Our results indicate MnMEIO-Ex4 NPs are safe and effective for the detection and long-term monitoring of transplanted β-cells by MRI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
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12 pages, 1855 KiB  
Article
Towards Drug Delivery Control Using Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Three-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
by Mohammed Almijalli, Ali Saad, Khalid Alhussaini, Adham Aleid and Abdullatif Alwasel
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 1876; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11081876 - 22 Jul 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1467
Abstract
The purpose of this paper was to detect and separate the cluster intensity provided by Iron oxide nanoparticles (IO-NPs), in the MRI images, to investigate the drug delivery effectiveness. IO-NPs were attached to the macrophages and inserted into the eye of the inflamed [...] Read more.
The purpose of this paper was to detect and separate the cluster intensity provided by Iron oxide nanoparticles (IO-NPs), in the MRI images, to investigate the drug delivery effectiveness. IO-NPs were attached to the macrophages and inserted into the eye of the inflamed mouse’s calf. The low resolution of MRI and the tiny dimension of the IO-NPs made the situation challenging. IO-NPs serve as a marker, due to their strong intensity in the MRI, enabling us to follow the track of the macrophages. An image processing procedure was developed to estimate the position and the amount of IO-NPs spreading inside the inflamed mouse leg. A fuzzy Clustering algorithm was adopted to select the region of interest (ROI). A 3D model of the femoral region was used for the detection and then the extraction IO-NPs in the MRI images. The results achieved prove the effectiveness of the proposed method to improve the control process of targeted drug delivered. It helps in optimizing the treatment and opens a promising novel research axis for nanomedicine applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
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Review

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37 pages, 4294 KiB  
Review
Contrasting Properties of Polymeric Nanocarriers for MRI-Guided Drug Delivery
by Natalia Łopuszyńska and Władysław P. Węglarz
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(15), 2163; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13152163 - 25 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1358
Abstract
Poor pharmacokinetics and low aqueous solubility combined with rapid clearance from the circulation of drugs result in their limited effectiveness and generally high therapeutic doses. The use of nanocarriers for drug delivery can prevent the rapid degradation of the drug, leading to its [...] Read more.
Poor pharmacokinetics and low aqueous solubility combined with rapid clearance from the circulation of drugs result in their limited effectiveness and generally high therapeutic doses. The use of nanocarriers for drug delivery can prevent the rapid degradation of the drug, leading to its increased half-life. It can also improve the solubility and stability of drugs, advance their distribution and targeting, ensure a sustained release, and reduce drug resistance by delivering multiple therapeutic agents simultaneously. Furthermore, nanotechnology enables the combination of therapeutics with biomedical imaging agents and other treatment modalities to overcome the challenges of disease diagnosis and therapy. Such an approach is referred to as “theranostics” and aims to offer a more patient-specific approach through the observation of the distribution of contrast agents that are linked to therapeutics. The purpose of this paper is to present the recent scientific reports on polymeric nanocarriers for MRI-guided drug delivery. Polymeric nanocarriers are a very broad and versatile group of materials for drug delivery, providing high loading capacities, improved pharmacokinetics, and biocompatibility. The main focus was on the contrasting properties of proposed polymeric nanocarriers, which can be categorized into three main groups: polymeric nanocarriers (1) with relaxation-type contrast agents, (2) with chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) properties, and (3) with direct detection contrast agents based on fluorinated compounds. The importance of this aspect tends to be downplayed, despite its being essential for the successful design of applicable theranostic nanocarriers for image-guided drug delivery. If available, cytotoxicity and therapeutic effects were also summarized. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
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33 pages, 3187 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive Updated Review on Magnetic Nanoparticles in Diagnostics
by Pedro Farinha, João M. P. Coelho, Catarina Pinto Reis and Maria Manuela Gaspar
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(12), 3432; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11123432 - 17 Dec 2021
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4719
Abstract
Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been studied for diagnostic purposes for decades. Their high surface-to-volume ratio, dispersibility, ability to interact with various molecules and superparamagnetic properties are at the core of what makes MNPs so promising. They have been applied in a multitude of [...] Read more.
Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been studied for diagnostic purposes for decades. Their high surface-to-volume ratio, dispersibility, ability to interact with various molecules and superparamagnetic properties are at the core of what makes MNPs so promising. They have been applied in a multitude of areas in medicine, particularly Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are the most well-accepted based on their excellent superparamagnetic properties and low toxicity. Nevertheless, IONPs are facing many challenges that make their entry into the market difficult. To overcome these challenges, research has focused on developing MNPs with better safety profiles and enhanced magnetic properties. One particularly important strategy includes doping MNPs (particularly IONPs) with other metallic elements, such as cobalt (Co) and manganese (Mn), to reduce the iron (Fe) content released into the body resulting in the creation of multimodal nanoparticles with unique properties. Another approach includes the development of MNPs using other metals besides Fe, that possess great magnetic or other imaging properties. The future of this field seems to be the production of MNPs which can be used as multipurpose platforms that can combine different uses of MRI or different imaging techniques to design more effective and complete diagnostic tests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
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