In Vivo Imaging and Quantification of Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Uptake and Biodistribution

P Jack Hoopes; Alicia A Petryk; Barjor Gimi; Andrew J Giustini; John B Weaver; John Bischof; Ryan Chamberlain; Michael Garwood

doi:10.1117/12.916097

In Vivo Imaging and Quantification of Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Uptake and Biodistribution

Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng. 2012 Mar 23:8317:83170R. doi: 10.1117/12.916097.

Authors

P Jack Hoopes¹, Alicia A Petryk², Barjor Gimi³, Andrew J Giustini¹, John B Weaver¹, John Bischof⁴, Ryan Chamberlain⁵, Michael Garwood⁶

Affiliations

¹ Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, 8000 Cummings Hall, Hanover, NH, USA 03755 ; Dartmouth Medical School (Departments of Surgery, Radiation Oncology and Radiology), 1 Rope Ferry Rd., Hanover, NH, USA 03755.
² Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, 8000 Cummings Hall, Hanover, NH, USA 03755.
³ Dartmouth Medical School (Departments of Surgery, Radiation Oncology and Radiology), 1 Rope Ferry Rd., Hanover, NH, USA 03755.
⁴ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 111 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA 55455 ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA 55455.
⁵ Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, 2021 Sixth St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA 55455.
⁶ Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, 2021 Sixth St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA 55455 ; Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA 55455.

Abstract

Recent advances in nanotechnology have allowed for the effective use of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) for cancer imaging and therapy. When activated by an alternating magnetic field (AMF), intra-tumoral IONPs have been effective at controlling tumor growth in rodent models. To accurately plan and assess IONP-based therapies in clinical patients, noninvasive and quantitative imaging technique for the assessment of IONP uptake and biodistribution will be necessary. Proven techniques such as confocal, light and electron microscopy, histochemical iron staining, ICP-MS, fluorescent labeled mNPs and magnetic spectroscopy of Brownian motion (MSB), are being used to assess and quantify IONPs in vitro and in ex vivo tissues. However, a proven noninvasive in vivo IONP imaging technique has not yet been developed. In this study we have demonstrated the shortcomings of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for effectively observing and quantifying iron/IONP concentrations in the clinical setting. Despite the poor outcomes of CT and standard MR sequences in the therapeutic concentration range, ultra-short T2 MRI methods such as, Sweep Imaging With Fourier Transformation (SWIFT), provide a positive iron contrast enhancement and a reduced signal to noise ratio. Ongoing software development and phantom and in vivo studies, will further optimize this technique, providing accurate, clinically-relevant IONP biodistribution information.

Keywords: MRI; SWIFT; hyperthermia; iron oxide; magnetic nanoparticle.

Abstract

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