Iron-based ferritin nanocore as a contrast agent

Barindra Sana; Eric Johnson; Kenneth Sheah; Chueh Loo Poh; Sierin Lim

doi:10.1116/1.3483216

Iron-based ferritin nanocore as a contrast agent

Barindra Sana, Eric Johnson, Kenneth Sheah, Chueh Loo Poh, Sierin Lim

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

48 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Self-assembling protein cages have been exploited as templates for nanoparticle synthesis. The ferritin molecule, a protein cage present in most living systems, stores excess soluble ferrous iron in the form of an insoluble ferric complex within its cavity. Magnetic nanocores formed by loading excess iron within an engineered ferritin from Archaeoglobus fulgidus (AfFtn-AA) were studied as a potential magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent. The self-assembly characteristics of the AfFtn-AA were investigated using dynamic light scattering technique and size exclusion chromatography. Homogeneous size distribution of the assembled nanoparticles was observed using transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic properties of iron-loaded AfFtn-AA were studied using vibrating sample magnetometry. Images obtained from a 3.0 T whole-body MRI scanner showed significant brightening of T₁ images and signal loss of T₂ images with increased concentrations of iron-loaded AfFtn-AA. The analysis of the MR image intensities showed extremely high R₂ values (5300 Mm^-1 s^-1) for the iron-loaded AfFtn-AA confirming its potential as a T₂ contrast agent.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	48-52
Number of pages	5
Journal	Biointerphases
Volume	5
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1116/1.3483216
Publication status	Published - 2010
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

General Chemistry
Biomaterials
General Materials Science
General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Physics and Astronomy

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title = "Iron-based ferritin nanocore as a contrast agent",

abstract = "Self-assembling protein cages have been exploited as templates for nanoparticle synthesis. The ferritin molecule, a protein cage present in most living systems, stores excess soluble ferrous iron in the form of an insoluble ferric complex within its cavity. Magnetic nanocores formed by loading excess iron within an engineered ferritin from Archaeoglobus fulgidus (AfFtn-AA) were studied as a potential magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent. The self-assembly characteristics of the AfFtn-AA were investigated using dynamic light scattering technique and size exclusion chromatography. Homogeneous size distribution of the assembled nanoparticles was observed using transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic properties of iron-loaded AfFtn-AA were studied using vibrating sample magnetometry. Images obtained from a 3.0 T whole-body MRI scanner showed significant brightening of T1 images and signal loss of T2 images with increased concentrations of iron-loaded AfFtn-AA. The analysis of the MR image intensities showed extremely high R2 values (5300 Mm-1 s-1) for the iron-loaded AfFtn-AA confirming its potential as a T2 contrast agent.",

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AU - Johnson, Eric

AU - Sheah, Kenneth

AU - Poh, Chueh Loo

AU - Lim, Sierin

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

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AB - Self-assembling protein cages have been exploited as templates for nanoparticle synthesis. The ferritin molecule, a protein cage present in most living systems, stores excess soluble ferrous iron in the form of an insoluble ferric complex within its cavity. Magnetic nanocores formed by loading excess iron within an engineered ferritin from Archaeoglobus fulgidus (AfFtn-AA) were studied as a potential magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent. The self-assembly characteristics of the AfFtn-AA were investigated using dynamic light scattering technique and size exclusion chromatography. Homogeneous size distribution of the assembled nanoparticles was observed using transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic properties of iron-loaded AfFtn-AA were studied using vibrating sample magnetometry. Images obtained from a 3.0 T whole-body MRI scanner showed significant brightening of T1 images and signal loss of T2 images with increased concentrations of iron-loaded AfFtn-AA. The analysis of the MR image intensities showed extremely high R2 values (5300 Mm-1 s-1) for the iron-loaded AfFtn-AA confirming its potential as a T2 contrast agent.

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Iron-based ferritin nanocore as a contrast agent

Abstract

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