Gadolinium-conjugated TiO2-DNA oligonucleotide nanoconjugates show prolonged intracellular retention period and T1-weighted contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance images

Tatjana Paunesku, Tianyi Ke, Rohan Dharmakumar, Nicole Mascheri, Aiguo Wu, Barry Lai, Stefan Vogt, Jörg Maser, Kenneth Thurn, Barbara Szolc-Kowalska, Andrew Larson, Raymond C. Bergan, Reed Omary, Debiao Li, Zheng Rong Lu, Gayle E. Woloschak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nanoconjugates composed of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles, DNA oligonucleotides, and a gadolinium (Gd) contrast agent were synthesized for use in magnetic resonance imaging. Transfection of cultured cancer cells with these nanoconjugates showed them to be superior to the free contrast agent of the same formulation with regard to intracellular accumulation, retention, and subcellular localization. Our results have shown that 48 hours after treatment, the concentration of Gd in nanoconjugate-treated cells was 1000-fold higher than in cells treated with contrast agent alone. Consequently, T1-weighted contrast enhancements were observed in cells treated with nanoconjugates but not in cells treated by the contrast agent alone. This type of nanoconjugate with increased retention time, Gd accumulation, and intracellular delivery may find its use in Gd neutron-capture cancer therapy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)201-207
Number of pages7
JournalNanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine
Volume4
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Nanoconjugates
  • Subcellular targeting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • General Materials Science
  • Pharmaceutical Science

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