MRI molecular imaging using GLUT1 antibody-Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the hemangioma animal model for differentiating infantile hemangioma from vascular malformation.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of glucose transporter protein 1 (GLUT1) antibody-conjugated iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe 3 O 4 NPs) as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) molecular imaging agents for differentiating infantile hemangioma from vascular malformation in the hemangioma animal model. The conjugation of Fe 3 O 4 NPs with anti-GLUT1 antibodies leads to a significantly increased uptake of NPs by human umbilical vein endothelial cells. MRI imaging following the intravenous injection of GLUT1 antibody-Fe 3 O 4 NPs yielded a significantly lower signal intensity than did unconjugated Fe 3 O 4 NPs. Upon histological examination of the GLUT1 antibody-Fe 3 O 4 NPs, Prussian blue-stained NPs were identified in CD31-positive endothelial cells of hemangioma. In contrast, when treated with unconjugated Fe 3 O 4 NPs, Prussian blue-stained NPs were found in macrophages rather than in endothelial cells. GLUT1 antibody conjugation can effectively target the injected Fe 3 O 4 NPs to GLUT1-positive tumor cells in infantile hemangioma. From the Clinical Editor This study evaluates the efficacy of glucose transporter protein 1 antibody-conjugated iron oxide nanoparticles as MRI molecular imaging agents for differentiating infantile hemangioma from vascular malformation. Results demonstrate that CD-31 positive endothelial cells are targeted by this complex, which largely accumulates in macrophages resulting in significant MRI signal changes compared to using iron oxide alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]