Quantitative imaging of magnetic nanoparticles in an unshielded environment using a large AC susceptibility array.

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive magnetic imaging techniques are necessary to assist magnetic nanoparticles in biomedical applications, mainly detecting their distribution inside the body. In Alternating Current Biosusceptometry (ACB), the magnetic nanoparticle's magnetization response under an oscillating magnetic field, which is applied through an excitation coil, is detected with a balanced detection coil system. RESULTS: We built a Multi-Channel ACB system (MC-ACB) containing nineteen pick-up coils and obtained 2D quantitative images of magnetic nanoparticle distributions by solving an inverse problem. We reconstructed the magnetic nanoparticles spatial distributions in a field of view of 14 × 14 cm2 with a spatial resolution of 2.0 cm and sensitivity in the milligram scale. A correlation coefficient between quantitative reconstructed and nominal magnetic nanoparticle distributions above 0.6 was found for all measurements. CONCLUSION: Besides other interesting features such as sufficient large field of view dimension for mice and rat studies, portability, and the ability to assess the quantitative magnetic nanoparticles distributions in real-time, the MC-ACB system is a promising tool for quantitative imaging of magnetic nanoparticles distributions in real-time, offering an affordable setup for easy access in clinical or laboratory environments.

Biodistribution Profile of Magnetic Nanoparticles in Cirrhosis-Associated Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rats by AC Biosusceptometry.

Since magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been used as multifunctional probes to diagnose and treat liver diseases in recent years, this study aimed to assess how the condition of cirrhosis-associated hepatocarcinogenesis alters the biodistribution of hepatic MNPs. Using a real-time image acquisition approach, the distribution profile of MNPs after intravenous administration was monitored using an AC biosusceptometry (ACB) assay. We assessed the biodistribution profile based on the ACB images obtained through selected regions of interest (ROIs) in the heart and liver position according to the anatomical references previously selected. The signals obtained allowed for the quantification of pharmacokinetic parameters, indicating that the uptake of hepatic MNPs is compromised during liver cirrhosis, since scar tissue reduces blood flow through the liver and slows its processing function. Since liver monocytes/macrophages remained constant during the cirrhotic stage, the increased intrahepatic vascular resistance associated with impaired hepatic sinusoidal circulation was considered the potential reason for the change in the distribution of MNPs.

2D Quantitative Imaging of Magnetic Nanoparticles by an AC Biosusceptometry Based Scanning Approach and Inverse Problem.

The use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in biomedical applications requires the quantitative knowledge of their quantitative distribution within the body. AC Biosusceptometry (ACB) is a biomagnetic technique recently employed to detect MNPs in vivo by measuring the MNPs response when exposed to an alternate magnetic field. The ACB technique presents some interesting characteristics: non-invasiveness, low operational cost, high portability, and no need for magnetic shielding. ACB conventional methods until now provided only qualitative information about the MNPs' mapping in small animals. We present a theoretical model and experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of ACB reconstructing 2D quantitative images of MNPs' distributions. We employed an ACB single-channel scanning approach, measuring at 361 sensor positions, to reconstruct MNPs' spatial distributions. For this, we established a discrete forward problem and solved the ACB system's inverse problem. Thus, we were able to determine the positions and quantities of MNPs in a field of view of 5×5×1 cm3 with good precision and accuracy. The results show the ACB system's capabilities to reconstruct the quantitative spatial distribution of MNPs with a spatial resolution better than 1 cm, and a sensitivity of 1.17 mg of MNPs fixed in gypsum. These results show the system's potential for biomedical application of MNPs in several studies, for example, electrochemical-functionalized MNPs for cancer cell targeting, quantitative sensing, and possibly in vivo imaging.

The Influence of Omeprazole on the Dissolution Processes of pH-Dependent Magnetic Tablets Assessed by Pharmacomagnetography.

Pharmacomagnetography involves the simultaneous assessment of solid dosage forms (SDFs) in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the drug plasmatic concentration, using a biomagnetic technique and pharmacokinetics analysis. This multi-instrumental approach helps the evaluation, as GI variables can interfere with the drug delivery processes. This study aimed to employ pharmacomagnetography to evaluate the influence of omeprazole on the drug release and absorption of metronidazole administered orally in magnetic-coated tablets. Magnetic-coated tablets, coated with Eudragit® E-100 (E100) and containing 100 mg of metronidazole, were produced. For the in vivo experiments, 12 volunteers participated in the two phases of the study (placebo and omeprazole) on different days to assess the bioavailability of metronidazole. The results indicated a shift as the pH of the solution increased and a delay in the dissolution of metronidazole, showing that the pH increase interferes with the release processes of tablets coated with E100. Our study reinforced the advantages of pharmacomagnetography as a tool to perform a multi-instrumental correlation analysis of the disintegration process and the bioavailability of drugs.

An easy and low-cost biomagnetic methodology to study regional gastrointestinal transit in rats.

The identification of gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders requires the evaluation of regional GI transit, and the development of alternative methodologies in animals has a significant impact on translational approaches. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to validate an easy and low-cost methodology (alternate current biosusceptometry - ACB) for the assessment of regional GI transit in rats through images. Rats were fed a test meal containing magnetic tracer and phenol red, and GI segments (stomach, proximal, medial and distal small intestine, and cecum) were collected to assess tracer's retention at distinct times after ingestion (0, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min). Images were obtained by scanning the segments, and phenol red concentration was determined by the sample's absorbance. The temporal retention profile, geometric center, gastric emptying, and cecum arrival were evaluated. The correlation coefficient between methods was 0.802, and the temporal retention of each segment was successfully assessed. GI parameters yielded comparable results between methods, and ACB images presented advantages as the possibility to visualize intrasegmental tracer distribution and the automated scan of the segments. The imaging approach provided a reliable assessment of several parameters simultaneously and may serve as an accurate and sensitive approach for regional GI research in rats.