Owing to their biocompatible and biodegradable properties, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are promising candidates for drug delivery. Their unique porous structure and versatile surface functionality allows MSNs to carry high payloads of drugs through encapsulation or surface attachment. In order to achieve longer blood circulation times, specific accumulation in tumor tissue, and thus more efficient MRI contrast enhancement, nanoformulations of MRI contrast agents have been extensively pursued. Here, we report the fabrication of ultra-small iron oxide nanoparticle- and Gd(DTPA)-decorated MSNs for the purpose of designing MRI contrast agents. These nanoplatform were characterized by TEM, AFM, and DLS. The content of the magnetic materials in the MSNs was determined by ICP-MS. Relaxivity measurements at 14.1T (Bruker Ascend III, 600MHz) revealed that these nanomaterials can be used as T1-weighted MRI contrast agents in ultra-high field MRI. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that these nanomaterials can be delivered to the tumor sites in 4T1 tumor-bearing BALB/c mice by Neural Progenitor Cells to achieve improved MRI contrast enhancement.<br/>

Cell-based targeted delivery of mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with a T1-contrast agent to 4T1 tumors

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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