The development of more sensitive diagnostic tools allowing an early-stage and highly efficient medical imaging of tumors remains a challenge. Magnetic nanoparticles seem to be the contrast agents with the highest potential, if properly constructed. Therefore, in this study, hybrid magnetic nanoarchitectures were developed using a new amphiphilic inulin-based graft copolymer (INU-LAPEG-FA) as coating material for 10-nm spinel iron oxide (magnetite, Fe₃O₄) superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPION). Folic acid (FA) covalently linked to the coating copolymer in order to be exposed onto the nanoparticle surface was chosen as the targeting agent because folate receptors are upregulated in many cancer types. Physicochemical characterization and in vitro biocompatibility study was then performed on the prepared magnetic nanoparticles. The improved targeting and imaging properties of the prepared FA-SPIONs were further evaluated in nude mice using 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). FA-SPIONs exhibited the ability to act as efficient contrast agents in conventional MRI, providing a potential nanoplatform not only for tumor diagnosis but also for cancer treatment, through the delivery of anticancer drug or locoregional magnetic hyperthermia.

中文翻译：

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叶酸靶向涂层SPIONs作为MRI的有效工具

开发更敏感的诊断工具以对肿瘤进行早期和高效的医学成像仍然是一个挑战。如果构造正确，磁性纳米粒子似乎是具有最高潜力的造影剂。因此，在这项研究中，使用新的两亲菊粉基接枝共聚物（INU-LAPEG-FA）作为10 nm尖晶石型氧化铁（磁铁矿，Fe ₃ O ₄）超顺磁性纳米粒子（SPION）的涂层材料，开发了混合磁性纳米结构。 。共价键合到涂层共聚物上以便暴露在纳米颗粒表面上的叶酸（FA）被选作靶向剂，因为在许多癌症类型中叶酸受体被上调。理化特性和体外然后对制备的磁性纳米颗粒进行生物相容性研究。使用7-特斯拉磁共振成像（MRI）在裸鼠中进一步评估了制备的FA-SPIONs的靶向性和成像性能。FA-SPIONs具有在常规MRI中充当有效造影剂的能力，通过递送抗癌药或局部磁热疗，不仅为肿瘤诊断提供了潜在的纳米平台，还为癌症治疗提供了潜在的纳米平台。