Cocaine analogue conjugated magnetic nanoparticles for labeling and imaging dopaminergic neurons. (9th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jeon, Mike; Lin, Guanyou; Stephen, Zachary R.; Vechey, Josey E.; Singh, Manjot; Revia, Richard; Newman, Amy Hauck; Martinez, Diana; Zhang, Miqin
• Is Part Of: Biomaterials science. Volume 8:Number 15(2020)
• Page Start: 4166
• Page End: 4175
• Publication Date: 2020-06-09
• Subjects: Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1039/d0bm00546k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2047-4830

Abstract

Abstract : An iron oxide nanoparticle conjugated with a cocaine analogue exhibits small size and long-term stability with the ability to target dopamine transporter-expressing neurons and provides excellent contrast enhancement under MRI, demonstrating great potential for neuroimaging. Abstract : Molecular imaging of the dopamine transporter (DAT) with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) has been widely used in studies of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, there is a great interest in expanding molecular imaging to include magnetic resonance technology, because of the superior spatial resolution this technology may provide. Here we present a magnetic nanoparticle (NP) that specifically targets dopaminergic neurons and allows DAT imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The nanoparticle (namely, NP-DN) is composed of an iron oxide core and a polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating to which a DAT specific dopaminergic neurolabeler (DN) is conjugated. NP-DN displayed long-term stability with favorable hydrodynamic size and surface charge suitable for in vivo application. In vitro studies showed NP-DN was non-toxic, displayed specificity towards DAT-expressing neurons, and demonstrated a 3-fold increase in DAT labeling over non-targeted NP. Our study shows NP-DN provides excellent contrast enhancement for MRI and demonstrates great potential for neuroimaging.