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Congrès sous l’égide de la Société Française de Génie Biologique et Médical (SFGBM); National audience; For nanomedicine applications, there is a need to design advanced and cost-effective coatings, resistant to protein adsorption leading to increased biodistribution in vivo. In this study, phosphonate poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers were synthesized and used to coat 6nm and 13nm iron oxide particle. In vitro, PEGylated particles exhibit exceptional stability and low cellular uptake, of the order of 100 femtograms of iron per cell. In vivo, we developed an in vivo Dynamic Susceptibility Weighted MRI (7T) protocol to monitor the hepatic capture and clearance of the particles injected to mice as a function of the time. PEGylated coat of molecular weight 2000 gmol-1 show a 2hrs delay to liver uptake as compared to the commercially available USPIO Cliavist, indicating a direct correlation between the surface properties of the contrast agents and their stealthiness.

Non-destructive volume visualization can be achieved only by tomographic techniques, of which the most efficient is the x-ray micro computerized tomography (μCT). High resolution μCT is a very versatile yet accurate (1-2 microns of resolution) technique for 3D examination of ex-vivo biological samples(1, 2). As opposed to electron tomography, the μCT allows the examination of up to 4 cm thick samples. This technique requires only few hours of measurement as compared to weeks in histology. In addition, μCT does not rely on 2D stereologic models, thus it may complement and in some cases can even replace histological methods(3, 4), which are both time consuming and destructive. Sample conditioning and positioning in μCT is straightforward and does not require high vacuum or low temperatures, which may adversely affect the structure. The sample is positioned and rotated 180° or 360°between a microfocused x-ray source and a detector, which includes a scintillator and an accurate CCD camera, For each angle a 2D image is taken, and then the entire volume is reconstructed using one of the different available algorithms(5-7). The 3D resolution increases with the decrease of the rotation step. The present video protocol shows the main steps in preparation, immobilization and positioning of the sample followed by imaging at high resolution.

Non-destructive volume visualization can be achieved only by tomographic techniques, of which the most efficient is the x-ray micro computerized tomography (μCT). High resolution μCT is a very versatile yet accurate (1-2 microns of resolution) technique for 3D examination of ex-vivo biological samples1, 2. As opposed to electron tomography, the μCT allows the examination of up to 4 cm thick samples. This technique requires only few hours of measurement as compared to weeks in histology. In addition, μCT does not rely on 2D stereologic models, thus it may complement and in some cases can even replace histological methods3, 4, which are both time consuming and destructive. Sample conditioning and positioning in μCT is straightforward and does not require high vacuum or low temperatures, which may adversely affect the structure. The sample is positioned and rotated 180° or 360°between a microfocused x-ray source and a detector, which includes a scintillator and an accurate CCD camera, For each angle a 2D image is taken, and then the entire volume is reconstructed using one of the different available algorithms5-7. The 3D resolution increases with the decrease of the rotation step. The present video protocol shows the main steps in preparation, immobilization and positioning of the sample followed by imaging at high resolution.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among cancers. Early detection and diagnosis present a major goal in the efforts to improve survival rates of lung cancer patients. Changes in angiogenic activity and microvascular perfusion properties in cancers can serve as markers of malignancy. The aim of this study was to employ MRI means to measure the microvascular perfusion parameters of orthotopic nonsmall cell lung cancer, using the experimental rat model. Anatomical and dynamic contrast-enhanced lung images were acquired at high spatial resolution, and registered and analyzed, pixel by pixel and globally, by means of a model-based algorithm. The MRI output yielded color-coded parametric images of the influx and efflux transcapillary transfer constants that indicated rapid microvascular perfusion. The transfer constants were about 1 order of magnitude higher than those found in other tumors or in nonorthotopic lung cancer, with the influx constant median value of 0.42 min−1 and the efflux constant median value of 1.61 min−1. The rapid perfusion was in accord with the immunostaining of the capillaries, which suggested the tumor exploitation of the existing alveolar vessels. The results showed that high resolution, dynamic, contrast-enhanced MRI is an effective tool for the quantitative measurement of spatial and temporal changes in lung cancer perfusion and vasculature. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.