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.
Additional Information
© 2010 American Vacuum Society. Received 17 May 2010; accepted 3 August 2010; published 14 December 2010. This paper is part of an In Focus section on Biointerphase Science in Singapore, sponsored by Brukner Optik Southeast Asia, IMRE, the Provost's Office and School of Materials Science and Engineering of Nanyang Technological University, and Analytical Technologies Pte Ltd. The authors wish to thank Alasdair W. McDowall for assistance with electron microscopy, Dhandie Cervantes, and Renuka for assistance with the MRI. A.W.M. and the EM center are supported by funding awarded through the Beckman Institute Foundation. This work is funded by the Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier I (Grant No. RG33/07).Attached Files
Published - Sana2010p12476Biointerphases.pdf
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 21950
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20110201-112655665
- Beckman Institute Foundation
- RG33/07
- Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund
- Created
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2011-02-14Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-09Created from EPrint's last_modified field