Superfine Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Cerebrovasculature by polymeric contrast agent

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K01308
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: Mahara Atsushi 国立研究開発法人国立循環器病研究センター, 研究所, 室長 (80416221)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山岡 哲二 国立研究開発法人国立循環器病研究センター, 研究所, 部長 (50243126)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 高分子MRI造影剤 / 脳血管イメージング / MRA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we developed a polymeric Gd-conjugated contrast agent for high-resolution imaging of cerebrovasculature. The branched polyethylene glycols having approximately 15 kDa of molecular weight were conjugated with Gd-chelate and fluorescein. We showed that microvasculature network could be visualized with the resolution of 100 μm by using the contrast agents. Experimental results indicated that relaxivity increasing was induced by the branch structure, and the agents were excreted in urine after 24 hours for the administration. Inflammatory markers in the blood were not induced by the injection. Moreover, we succeeded in proving the possibility that cerebral ischemia region and collateral flow were clearly visualized with the polymeric contrast agents in middle cerebral artery occlusion model rats.

Free Research Field

組織再生工学、バイオマテリアル