Abstract
This paper presents the efficacy of a contrast agent based on H(2)N-Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles for the detection of prostate cancer in an animal model using a preclinical 9.4 T MRI system. The relaxivities r(1) and r(2) of the nanoparticles were 6.31 mM(-1)s(-1) and 8.33 mM(-1)s(-1), respectively. Nanoparticles injected in a concentration of 2 mg Fe/mL decreased the tumor-relative T(1) relaxation across all animals from 100 to 76 ± 26, 85 ± 27, 89 ± 20, and 97 ± 16 12 min 1 h, 2 h, and 24 h post injection, respectively. The corresponding T(1) decrease in muscle tissues was 90 ± 20, 94 ± 23, 99 ± 12, and 99 ± 14. The relative T(2) changes in the tumor were 82 ± 17, 89 ± 19, 97 ± 14, and 99 ± 8 12 min, 1 h, 2 h, and 24 h post injection, respectively, while, for muscle tissues, these values were 95 ± 11, 95 ± 8, 97 ± 6, and 95 ± 10 at the corresponding time points. The differences in the relative T(1) and T(2) were only significant 12 min after injection (p < 0.05), although a decrease was visible at each time point, but it was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). The results showed the potential application of H(2)N-Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles as contrast agents for enhanced prostate cancer MRI.