Novel Polymeric Micelles-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles for In Vivo Bioimaging of Liver: Toxicological Profile and Contrast Enhancement
Ioana Mihaela Popescu Din,
Mihaela Balas,
Anca Hermenean,
Luce Vander Elst,
Sophie Laurent,
Carmen Burtea,
Ludmila Otilia Cinteza,
Anca Dinischiotu
Affiliations
Ioana Mihaela Popescu Din
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91–95 Splaiul Independentei, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
Mihaela Balas
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91–95 Splaiul Independentei, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
Anca Hermenean
Department of Experimental and Applied Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, 86 Rebreanu, 310414 Arad, Romania
Luce Vander Elst
Department of General, Organic and Biomedical Chemistry, NMR and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Mons, 19, Avenue Maistriau, Mendeleev Building, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
Sophie Laurent
Department of General, Organic and Biomedical Chemistry, NMR and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Mons, 19, Avenue Maistriau, Mendeleev Building, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
Carmen Burtea
Department of General, Organic and Biomedical Chemistry, NMR and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Mons, 19, Avenue Maistriau, Mendeleev Building, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
Ludmila Otilia Cinteza
Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, 4-12 Regina Elisabeta Blvd, 030018 Bucharest, Romania
Anca Dinischiotu
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91–95 Splaiul Independentei, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
Magnetic nanoparticles are intensively studied for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as contrast agents but yet there remained some gaps regarding their toxicity potential and clinical implications of their biodistribution in organs. This study presents the effects induced by magnetite nanoparticles encapsulated in polymeric micelles (MNP-DSPE-PEG) on biochemical markers, metabolic functions, and MRI signal in CD1 mice liver. Three groups of animals, one control and the other ones injected with a suspension of five, respectively, 15 mg Fe/kg bw nanoparticles, were monitored up to 14 days. The results indicated the presence of MNP-DSPE-PEG in the liver in the first two days of the experiment. The most significant biochemical changes also occurred in the first 3 days after exposure when the most severe histological changes were observed. The change of the MRI signal intensity on the T2-weighted images and increased transverse relaxation rates R2 in the liver were observed after the first minutes from the nanoparticle administration. The study shows that the alterations of biomarkers level resulting from exposure to MNP-DSPE-PEG are restored in time in mice liver. This was associated with a significant contrast on T2-weighted images and made us conclude that these nanoparticles might be potential candidates for use as a contrast agent in liver medical imaging.
