11 research outputs found
Functional imaging using fluorine ((19)F) MR methods: basic concepts
Kidney-associated pathologies would greatly benefit from noninvasive and robust methods that can objectively quantify changes in renal function. In the past years there has been a growing incentive to develop new applications for fluorine ((19)F) MRI in biomedical research to study functional changes during disease states. (19)F MRI represents an instrumental tool for the quantification of exogenous (19)F substances in vivo. One of the major benefits of (19)F MRI is that fluorine in its organic form is absent in eukaryotic cells. Therefore, the introduction of exogenous (19)F signals in vivo will yield background-free images, thus providing highly selective detection with absolute specificity in vivo. Here we introduce the concept of (19)F MRI, describe existing challenges, especially those pertaining to signal sensitivity, and give an overview of preclinical applications to illustrate the utility and applicability of this technique for measuring renal function in animal models. This chapter is based upon work from the COST Action PARENCHIMA, a community-driven network funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) program of the European Union, which aims to improve the reproducibility and standardization of renal MRI biomarkers. This introduction chapter is complemented by two separate chapters describing the experimental procedure and data analysis
International Forum on GMP-grade human platelet lysate for cell propagation
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International Forum on GMP-grade human platelet lysate for cell propagation: summary
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Nanodiamond–Gadolinium(III) Aggregates for Tracking Cancer Growth In Vivo at High Field
The
ability to track labeled cancer cells in vivo would allow researchers
to study their distribution, growth, and metastatic potential within
the intact organism. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is invaluable
for tracking cancer cells in vivo as it benefits from high spatial
resolution and the absence of ionizing radiation. However, many MR
contrast agents (CAs) required to label cells either do not significantly
accumulate in cells or are not biologically compatible for translational
studies. We have developed carbon-based nanodiamond–gadoliniumÂ(III)
aggregates (NDG) for MR imaging that demonstrated remarkable properties
for cell tracking in vivo. First, NDG had high relaxivity independent
of field strength, a finding unprecedented for gadoliniumÂ(III) [GdÂ(III)]–nanoparticle
conjugates. Second, NDG demonstrated a 300-fold increase in the cellular
delivery of GdÂ(III) compared to that of clinical GdÂ(III) chelates
without sacrificing biocompatibility. Further, we were able to monitor
the tumor growth of NDG-labeled flank tumors by <i>T</i><sub>1</sub>- and <i>T</i><sub>2</sub>-weighted MR imaging
for 26 days in vivo, longer than was reported for other MR CAs or
nuclear agents. Finally, by utilizing quantitative maps of relaxation
times, we were able to describe tumor morphology and heterogeneity
(corroborated by histological analysis), which would not be possible
with competing molecular imaging modalities