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Iron‐loaded PLLA nanoparticles as highly efficient intracellular markers for visualization of mesenchymal stromal cells by MRI
In conclusion the presented work demonstrates the applicability of iPLLA particles as efficient intracellular marker for MSC labeling for monitoring the fate of the cells by MRI. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. High R2* relaxivity rate of nanometer‐sized iPLLA enables visualization of a single labelled cell in vitro and allows sensitive in vivo and detection of local cell aggregations at a relatively low payload of MR contrast. (Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging)
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - February 12, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: I. Vernikouskaya, N. Fekete, M. Bannwarth, A. Erle, M. Rojewski, K. Landfester, G. Schmidtke‐Schrezenmeier, H. Schrezenmeier, V. Rasche Tags: Full Paper Source Type: research

Sensitivity enhancement of (Hyper‐)CEST image series by exploiting redundancies in the spectral domain
CEST has proven to be a valuable technique for the detection of hyperpolarized xenon‐based functionalized contrast agents. Additional information can be encoded in the spectral dimension, allowing the simultaneous detection of multiple different biosensors. However, owing to the low concentration of dissolved xenon in biological tissue, the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of Hyper‐CEST data is still a critical issue. In this work, we present two techniques aiming to increase SNR by exploiting the typically high redundancy in spectral CEST image series: PCA‐based post‐processing and sub‐sampled acquisition with lo...
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - January 27, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: Jörg Döpfert, Christopher Witte, Martin Kunth, Leif Schröder Tags: Full Paper Source Type: research

Encapsulated gadolinium and dysprosium ions within ultra‐short carbon nanotubes for MR microscopy at 11.75 and 21.1 T
This report investigates the first use of Gd3+ and Dy3+ ions within US‐tubes (GNTs and DNTs, respectively) at ultra‐high magnetic field (21.1 T). Both agents are compared in solution and as an intracellular contrast agent labeling a murine microglia cell line (Bv2) immobilized in a tissue‐mimicking agarose phantom using two high magnetic fields: 21.1 and 11.75 T. In solution at 21.1 T, results show excellent transverse relaxation; DNTs outperformed GNTs as a T2 agent with measured r2/r1 ratios of 247 and 47, respectively. Additionally, intracellular DNTs were shown to be a better T2 agent than GNTs with higher ...
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - January 27, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: Jens T. Rosenberg, Brandon T. Cisneros, Michael Matson, Michelle Sokoll, Afi Sachi‐Kocher, Fabian Calixto Bejarano, Lon J. Wilson, Samuel C. Grant Tags: Full Paper Source Type: research

Relaxometric studies of gadolinium‐functionalized perfluorocarbon nanoparticles for MR imaging
Fluorine MRI (19F MRI) is receiving an increasing attention as a viable alternative to proton‐based MRI (1H MRI) for dedicated application in molecular imaging. The 19F nucleus has a high gyromagnetic ratio, a 100% natural abundance and is furthermore hardly present in human tissues allowing for hot spot MR imaging. The applicability of 19F MRI as a molecular and cellular imaging technique has been exploited, ranging from cell tracking to detection and imaging of tumors in preclinical studies. In addition to applications, developing new contrast materials with improved relaxation properties has also been a core research ...
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - January 27, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: Anke Vries, Rik Moonen, Muhammed Yildirim, Sander Langereis, Rolf Lamerichs, Jeroen A. Pikkemaat, Simona Baroni, Enzo Terreno, Klaas Nicolay, Gustav J. Strijkers, Holger Grüll Tags: Full Paper Source Type: research

Diffusion properties of conventional and calcium‐sensitive MRI contrast agents in the rat cerebral cortex
Calcium‐sensitive MRI contrast agents can only yield quantitative results if the agent concentration in the tissue is known. The agent concentration could be determined by diffusion modeling, if relevant parameters were available. We have established an MRI‐based method capable of determining diffusion properties of conventional and calcium‐sensitive agents. Simulations and experiments demonstrate that the method is applicable both for conventional contrast agents with a fixed relaxivity value and for calcium‐sensitive contrast agents. The full pharmacokinetic time‐course of gadolinium concentration estimates was...
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - January 27, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: Gisela E. Hagberg, Ilgar Mamedov, Anthony Power, Michael Beyerlein, Hellmut Merkle, Valerij G. Kiselev, Kirti Dhingra, Vojtĕch Kubìček, Goran Angelovski, Nikos K. Logothetis Tags: Full Paper Source Type: research

Spectral CT: a technology primer for contrast agent development
Recent developments in spectral CT systems featuring binned photon‐counting detector technology have enabled an imaging concept on a pre‐clinical level that has been coined K‐edge imaging. This exciting concept allows the selective and quantitative imaging of contrast media by exploiting the K‐edge discontinuity in the photo‐electric component of X‐ray absorption. An ideal application for K‐edge imaging is CT imaging of target‐specific and conventional contrast agents that have been designed to be spectral‐CT‐visible. Current limitations in detector hardware, however, result in typically high noise leve...
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - January 27, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: Carsten O. Schirra, Bernhard Brendel, Mark A. Anastasio, Ewald Roessl Tags: Special Focus Review Source Type: research

Multifunctional theranostic gold nanoparticles for targeted CT imaging and photothermal therapy
Gold nanoparticles have emerged as some of the most extensively utilized nanoplatforms for the diagnosis, imaging, monitoring and treatment of malignant diseases. In particular, in computed tomography (CT) imaging and in therapy (PTT), the exploitation of the various, advantageous properties of gold nanoparticles have resulted in numerous advances in each of these fields. The purpose of this review is to assess the status of gold‐nanoparticle mediated CT and PTT, highlight several promising outcomes and motivate the combination of these two functionalities in the same nanoparticle platform. The given examples of research...
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - January 27, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: Taeyjuana Curry, Raoul Kopelman, Malka Shilo, Rachela Popovtzer Tags: Special Focus Review Source Type: research

Nanoparticle contrast agents for computed tomography: a focus on micelles
Computed tomography (CT) is an X‐ray‐based whole‐body imaging technique that is widely used in medicine. Clinically approved contrast agents for CT are iodinated small molecules or barium suspensions. Over the past seven years there has been a great increase in the development of nanoparticles as CT contrast agents. Nanoparticles have several advantages over small molecule CT contrast agents, such as long blood‐pool residence times and the potential for cell tracking and targeted imaging applications. Furthermore, there is a need for novel CT contrast agents, owing to the growing population of renally impaired pati...
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - January 27, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: David P. Cormode, Pratap C. Naha, Zahi A. Fayad Tags: Special Focus Review Source Type: research

Recent advances in ytterbium‐based contrast agents for in vivo X‐ray computed tomography imaging: promises and prospects
X‐ray computed tomography (CT) imaging is one of the most widely used diagnostic imaging techniques in the clinic, and has raised significant interest in recent years both in research and practice owing to its many advantages such as deep penetration depth, high resolution and facile image processing. Developing heavy metal‐based CT contrast agents, especially heavy metal‐containing nanoparticulate CT contrast agents, has become a key focus in research fields to address issues of clinical iodinated agents involving short circulation time, low contrast efficiency and potential renal toxicity. In this review, we summar...
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - January 27, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: Yanlan Liu, Jianhua Liu, Kelong Ai, Qinghai Yuan, Lehui Lu Tags: Special Focus Review Source Type: research

Multicolor computed tomographic molecular imaging with noncrystalline high‐metal‐density nanobeacons
Computed tomography (CT) is one of the most frequently pursued radiology technologies applied in the clinics today and in the preclinical field of biomedical imaging. Myriad advances have been made to make this technique more powerful with improved signal sensitivity, rapid image acquisition and faster reconstruction. Synergistic development of novel nanoparticles has been adopted to produce the next‐generation CT contrasts agents for imaging specific biological markers. Nanometer‐sized agents are anticipated to play a critical part in the prospect of medical diagnostics owing to their capabilities of targeting specifi...
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - January 27, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: Dipanjan Pan, Carsten O. Schirra, Samuel A. Wickline, Gregory M. Lanza Tags: Special Focus Review Source Type: research

Clinical applications of spectral molecular imaging: potential and challenges
Spectral molecular imaging is a new X‐ray‐based imaging technology providing highly specific 3D imaging at high spatial resolution that has the potential to measure disease activity and response to treatment noninvasively. The ability to identify and quantify components of tissue and biomarkers of disease activity derive from the properties of the photon‐processing detector. Multiple narrow sections of the energy spectrum are sampled simultaneously, providing a range of energy dependent Hounsfield units. As each material has a specific measurable X‐ray spectrum, spectroscopic imaging allows for multiple materials t...
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - January 27, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: Nigel G. Anderson, Anthony P. Butler Tags: Special Focus Review Source Type: research

Molecular imaging with computed tomography
(Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging)
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - January 27, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: Gregory M. Lanza, Dipanjan Pan Tags: Editorial Source Type: research

Issue Information
No abstract is available for this article. (Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging)
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - January 1, 2014 Category: Radiology Tags: Issue Information Source Type: research

Evaluating reporter genes of different luciferases for optimized in vivo bioluminescence imaging of transplanted neural stem cells in the brain
Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) has become the method of choice for optical tracking of cells in small laboratory animals. However, the use of luciferases from different species, depending on different substrates and emitting at distinct wavelengths, has not been optimized for sensitive neuroimaging. In order to identify the most suitable luciferase, this quantitative study compared the luciferases Luc2, CBG99, PpyRE9 and hRluc. Human embryonic kidney (HEK‐293) cells and mouse neural stem cells were transduced by lentiviral vector‐mediated transfer to express one of the four luciferases, together with copGFP. A T2A pepti...
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - December 25, 2013 Category: Radiology Authors: Laura Mezzanotte, Markus Aswendt, Annette Tennstaedt, Rob Hoeben, Mathias Hoehn, Clemens Löwik Tags: Full Paper Source Type: research

In vivo visualization of single native pancreatic islets in the mouse
The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of a novel targeted contrast agent (CA) for the in vivo visualization of single native pancreatic islets, the sites of insulin production, in the pancreas of mice using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The CA for intravenous administration was composed of the β‐cell‐specific single‐chain antibody fragment, SCA B1, and ferromagnetic carbon‐coated cobalt nanoparticles. MRI experiments were performed at 7, 9.4 and 16.4 T in excised organs (pancreas, liver, kidney, spleen), at 7 T in mice fixed in formalin and at 9.4 and 16.4 T in living mice. Image con...
Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - December 25, 2013 Category: Radiology Authors: Dávid Z. Balla, Sven Gottschalk, G. Shajan, Sandra Ueberberg, Stephan Schneider, Matthias Hardtke‐Wolenski, Elmar Jaeckel, Verena Hoerr, Cornelius Faber, Klaus Scheffler, Rolf Pohmann, Jörn Engelmann Tags: Full Paper Source Type: research