Folate targeted coated SPIONs as efficient tool for MRI

The development of more sensitive diagnostic tools allowing an early stage and ever more efficient medical imaging of tumours is still a very present challenge. Magnetic nanoparticles seem to be the contrast agent with the highest potential if properly constructed. For this purpose, in this study, hybrady magnetic nanoarchitectures were developed using a new amphiphilic inulin based graft-copolymer (INU-LA-PEG-FA) as coating materials of 10 nm spinel iron oxide (magnetite, Fe3O4 ) superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPION). Folic acid (FA) was chosen as targeting agent covalently linked to the coating copolymer, in order to be exposed onto the nanoparticle surface, being folate receptors upregulated in many cancer types. Prepared magnetic nanoparticles (FA-SPIONs) were exhaustively characterized by a physico-chemical point of view, and biocompatibility tested in vitro. Improved targeting and imaging properties of prepared FA-SPIONs were evaluated in nude mice using 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). FA-SPIONs exhibited the ability to act as an efficient contrast agent in conventional MRI, providing a potential nanoplatform not only for tumour diagnosis but also for cancer treatment, exploiting the delivery of an anticancer drug or the locoregional magnetic hypertermia.