Transferrin-Coated Gadolinium Nanoparticles as MRI Contrast Agent

• DOI: 10.1007/s11307-012-0579-6
• Publication Date: 2012-12-11T19:25:36Z
• Authors: Huedayi Korkusuz; Karsten Ulbrich; Katerina Welzel; Verena Koeberle; Waralee Watcharin; Ute Bahr; Valery Chernikov; Thomas Knobloch; Sabine Petersen; Frank Huebner; Hanns Ackermann; Svetlana Gelperina; Wolfgang Kromen; Renate Hammerstingl; Joerg Haupenthal; Frank Gruenwald; Jens Fiehler; Stefan Zeuzem; Joerg Kreuter; Thomas J. Vogl; Albrecht Piiper
• Keywords: Human serum albumin; MRI contrast agent

In this study, the contrasting properties of human serum albumin nanoparticles (HSA-NPs) loaded with gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) and coated with transferrin in MRI in mice are evaluated.HSA-NPs were conjugated with Gd-DTPA (Gd-HSA-NPs) and coupled with transferrin (Gd-HSA-NP-Tf). Mice underwent MRI before or after injection of Gd-DTPA, Gd-HSA-NP, or Gd-HSA-NP-Tf.All the studied contrast agents provided a contrast enhancement (CE) in the blood, heart muscle, and liver. Compared to Gd-DTPA, CE with HSA-NP was achieved at lower Gd doses. Gd-HSA-NP-Tf yielded significantly higher CE than Gd-HSA-NP in the skeletal muscle, blood, cardiac muscle, and liver (p < 0.05). Gd-HSA-NP-Tf achieved a significantly higher CE than Gd-HSA-NP and Gd-DTPA in the blood, cardiac muscle, and liver (p < 0.05). In the brain, only Gd-HSA-NP-Tf was found to cause a significant CE (p < 0.05).The Gd-HSA nanoparticles have potential as MRI contrast agents. In particular, Gd-HSA-NP-Tf has a potential as a specific contrast agent for the brain, while the blood-brain barrier is still intact, as well as in the heart, liver, and skeletal muscle.