Characterization of the biocompatible magnetic colloid on the basis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with dextran, used as contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging.

The magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, the so-called Endorem colloidal suspension on the basis of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (mean diameter of 5.5 nm) coated with dextran, were characterized on the basis of several measurement techniques to determine the parameters of their most important physical and chemical properties. It is assumed that each nanoparticle is consisted of Fe3O4 monodomain and it was observed that its oxidation to gamma-Fe2O3 occurs at 253.1 degrees C. The Mössbauer spectroscopy have shown a superparamagnetic behavior of the magnetic nanoparticles. The Magnetic Resonance results show an increase of the relaxation times T1, T2, and T2* with decreasing concentration of iron oxide nanoparticles. The relaxation effects of SPIONs contrast agents are influenced by their local concentration as well as the applied field strength and the environment in which these agents interact with surrounding protons. The proton relaxation rates presented a linear behavior with concentration. The measured values of thermo-optic coefficient dn/dT, thermal conductivity kappa, optical birefringence delta n0, nonlinear refractive index n2, nonlinear absorption beta' and third-order nonlinear susceptibility |chi(3)| are also reported.

Characterization of superparamagnetic iron oxide coated with silicone used as contrast agent for magnetic resonance image for the gastrointestinal tract.

The present work is a report of the characterization of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with silicone used as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging of the gastrointestinal tract. The hydrodynamic size of the contrast agent is 281.2 nm, where it was determined by transmission electron microscopy and a Fe3O4 crystalline structure was identified by X-ray diffraction, also confirmed by Mössbauer Spectroscopy. The blocking temperature of 190 K was determined from magnetic measurements based on the Zero Field Cooled and Field Cooled methods. The hysteresis loops were measured at different temperatures below and above the blocking temperature. Ferromagnetic resonance analysis indicated the superparamagnetic nature of the nanoparticles and a strong temperature dependence of the peak-to-peak linewidth deltaH(pp), giromagnetic factor g, number of spins N(s) and relaxation time T2 were observed. This behavior can be attributed to an increase in the superexchange interaction.

In vitro study of CD133 human stem cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are applied in stem cell labeling because of their high magnetic susceptibility as compared with ordinary paramagnetic species, their low toxicity, and their ease of magnetic manipulation. The present work is the study of CD133+ stem cell labeling by SPIONs coupled to a specific antibody (AC133), resulting in the antigenic labeling of the CD133+ stem cell, and a method was developed for the quantification of the SPION content per cell, necessary for molecular imaging optimization. Flow cytometry analysis established the efficiency of the selection process and helped determine that the CD133 cells selected by chromatographic affinity express the transmembrane glycoprotein CD133. The presence of antibodies coupled to the SPION, expressed in the cell membrane, was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Quantification of the SPION concentration in the marked cells using the ferromagnetic resonance technique resulted in a value of 1.70 x 10(-13) mol iron (9.5 pg) or 7.0 x 10(6) nanoparticles per cell (the measurement was carried out in a volume of 2 muL containing about 6.16 x 10(5) pg iron, equivalent to 4.5 x 10(11) SPIONs).