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Magnetic nanoparticles for MR imaging: agents, techniques and cardiovascular applications

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Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) are playing an increasingly important role in cardiovascular molecular imaging. These agents are superparamagnetic and consist of a central core of iron-oxide surrounded by a carbohydrate or polymer coat. The size, physical properties and pharmacokinetics of MNP make them highly suited to cellular and molecular imaging of atherosclerotic plaque and myocardial injury. MNP have a sensitivity in the nanomolar range and can be detected with T1, T2, T2*, off resonance and steady state free precession sequences. Targeted imaging with MNP is being actively explored and can be achieved through either surface modification or through the attachment of an affinity ligand to the nanoparticle. First generation MNP are already in clinical use and second generation agents, with longer blood half lives, are likely to be approved for routine clinical use in the near future.

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Acknowledgments

Funding: Portions of this work have been supported by following National Institutes of Health grants: U01HL080731, R01HL07864, R01EB004626, P01CA117969-015904, R24-CA92782, K08 HL079984 (DES), and by the Donald W. Reynolds Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Harvard Medical School. Disclosures: RW is a shareholder of VisEN Medical in Woburn, MA.

Conflict of Interest Dr Weissleder is a shareholder of VisEn Medical in Woburn (MA), USA. The other authors report no conflicts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA

    David E. Sosnovik MD, FACC, Matthias Nahrendorf MD & Ralph Weissleder MD, PhD

  2. Dept. of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    David E. Sosnovik MD, FACC

  3. Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Ralph Weissleder MD, PhD

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  1. David E. Sosnovik MD, FACC
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Correspondence to David E. Sosnovik MD, FACC.

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Sosnovik, D.E., Nahrendorf, M. & Weissleder, R. Magnetic nanoparticles for MR imaging: agents, techniques and cardiovascular applications. Basic Res Cardiol 103, 122–130 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-008-0710-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-008-0710-7

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