Project/Area Number |
22K20520
|
Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
|
Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Review Section |
0403:Biomedical engineering and related fields
|
Research Institution | National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute |
Principal Investigator |
SONI RAGHAV 国立研究開発法人国立循環器病研究センター, 研究所, リサーチフェロー (10967863)
|
Project Period (FY) |
2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
|
Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2023)
|
Budget Amount *help |
¥2,860,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥660,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
|
Keywords | Nanoparticles / Fluorescein / PEG / Self-assembly / MRI contrast / self-assembly / 4-arm PEG / 4 arm PEG / Fe3O4 / Supramolecular assembly / MRI contrast agent / Cerebrovasculature / 8 arms-PEG |
Outline of Research at the Start |
MRI is a powerful, non-invasive tool for evaluating and diagnosing cerebral vasculature. However, MR techniques are limited only for the cerebral vessels larger than 1mm because of weak signal. Currently, clinically available contrast agents are lower molecular weight; therefore, higher diffusion across the vascular endothelium causes poor contrast quality. Herein, we propose developing a supramolecular self-assemble polymer-based contrast agent that minimizes the signal in the intravascular space, circulates stably in the blood, and excretion thoroughly to visualize the cerebral vasculature.
|
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
In this study, we created a self-assembled iron oxide nanoparticle-based contrast agent for high-resolution imaging of the cerebrovasculature. The branched polyethylene glycols having approximately 10 kDa of molecular weight are conjugated with iron oxide nanoparticles and fluorescein. The self-assembled fiber structure is concentration-dependent and formed by electrostatic interaction. Self-assembly fibers measuring 120 nm in length and 50 nm in width are detected at 25 mg/ml. Furthermore, self-assembly contrast administered intravenously in a rat model revealed a more significant cerebral microvascular network than conventional MRI imaging. The research result was presented at several domestic conferences and published in an international journal.
|
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
This study demonstrated that self-assemble contrast, when delivered into the circulation, can visualize microvascular networks that conventional MRI imaging cannot, making it an effective new imaging tool for diagnosing cerebral atherosclerosis and stroke.
|