JACS: FePt nanoparticles can serve as CT/MRI molecular imaging agents

Iron-platinum alloy (FePt) nanoparticles can potentially be used as dual modal CT/MRI molecular imaging contrast agents in clinical settings, according to a study published in the Sept. 29 issue of Journal of American Chemical Society.

The water-solvable FePt nanoparticles of 3nm, 6 nm and 12 nm in diameter were synthesized and applied as a dual modality contrast agent for CT/MRI molecular imaging by Chia-chun Chen, PhD, a professor in the department of chemistry at National Taiwan Normal University and his group.

These nanoparticles presented excellent biocompatibility and hemocompatibility in all test concentrations for imaging contrast, according to Chen and colleagues.

The biodistribution analysis revealed the highest serum concentration and circulation half-life for 12 nm-FePt, followed by 6 nm-FePt and then 3 nm-FePt.

The researchers demonstrated molecular expression dependent CT/MRI dual imaging contrast effect in MBT2 cell line and in tumor-bearing mice. The 12 nm-FePt outperformed 3 nm-FePt in both imaging modalities.

"These results indicate the potential of FePt nanoparticles to serve as novel multimodal molecular imaging contrast agents in clinical settings," concluded Chen and colleagues.

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