MRI Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about MRI, including details on magnetic resonance imaging, neuroimaging, brain tumors.

MRI observation of the light-induced release of a contrast agent from photo-controllable polymer micelles.

Lepage M, Jiang J, Babin J, Qi B, Tremblay L, Zhao Y

Département de médecine nucléaire et de radiobiologie, Université de Sherbrooke et Centre d'imagerie moléculaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada. Martin.Lepage@USherbrooke.ca

The encapsulation of molecules into nanocarriers is studied for its potential in delivering a high dose of anticancer drugs to a tumor, while minimizing side effects. Most systems either release their content in a non-specific manner or under specific environmental conditions such as temperature or pH. We have synthesized a novel class of photo-controllable polymer micelles that can stably encapsulate a hydrophilic compound and subsequently release it upon absorption of UV light. Here, we describe an in vitro magnetic resonance imaging assay that can evaluate the state of incorporation of a small Gd-based contrast agent. Our results indicate that the contrast agent alone can diffuse through a filter, but that the same agent incorporated into micelles cannot. After exposure to UV light, the micelles released the contrast agent, which could then diffuse through the filter.

Published 2 May 2007 in Phys Med Biol, 52(10): N249-55.
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