One-pot synthesis of magnetic nanoclusters enabling atherosclerosis-targeted magnetic resonance imaging

Aastha Kukreja,1 Eun-Kyung Lim,2–4 Byunghoon Kang,1 Yuna Choi,2 Taeksu Lee,1 Jin-Suck Suh,2,3 Yong-Min Huh,2,3 Seungjoo Haam1,31Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, 2Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 3YUHS-KRIBB Medical Convergence Research Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 4BioNanotechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaAbstract: In this study, dextran-encrusted magnetic nanoclusters (DMNCs) were synthesized using a one-pot solution phase method for detection of atherosclerosis by magnetic resonance imaging. Pyrenyl dextran was used as a surfactant because of its electron-stabilizing effect and its amphiphilic nature, rendering the DMNCs stable and water-dispersible. The DMNCs were 65.6±4.3 nm, had a narrow size distribution, and were superparamagnetic with a high magnetization value of 60.1 emu/g. Further, they showed biocompatibility and high cellular uptake efficiency, as indicated by a strong interaction between dextran and macrophages. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the ability of DMNCs to act as an efficient magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent capable of targeted detection of atherosclerosis. In view of these findings, it is concluded that DMNCs can be used as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents to detect inflammatory disease.Keywords: magnetic nanocrystal, magnetic resonance imaging, atherosclerosis, macrophages, dextran