Silica nanoparticles as a platform for 19F based MR spectroscopy, imaging and other biomedical applications
This technology describes the synthesis of 19F containing silica nanoparticles for 19F-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging applications, an area marked by requirement and paucity of non-toxic fluorine-containing compounds that can administere d in sufficiently high quantities. The synthesis uses a fluorine-containing precursor called 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl-trimethoxylane (TFPTMS) in an emulsion-based process comprising of mixing, magnetic stirring, centrifugation and washing at room tempe rature for about 15 hours. The 19F nanoparticles were also successfully loaded with zinc-containing porphyrin compounds to target cancer cells to enhance the concentration and signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 19F.Experiments were conducted using T EM showing nanoparticle size to be between 10-20 nm and enhanced spectra relative to tetra-methoxysilane (TMS) at room temperature. Besides, the loaded 19F nanoparticles were in vitro tested on 3 different cancer cell types: UCI-107(Uterine cancer), MCF-7(breast cancer) and HepG2 (liver cancer). It was determined that the nanoparticles entered cancer cells in sufficient quantities for imaging. In vivo studies were then conducted on mice that revealed better quality MR images.
In short, the te chnology possesses the following advantages:
The invention successfully presents valid cancer-cell imaging results both in vitro and in vivo
The 19F-rich silica nanoparticles are of high quality and sensitivity for MR applications
The synthesis process is simple and requires only room conditions
Categories: Nanotechnology, Imaging: Medical Imaging
Type of Offer: Licensing
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