Medical imaging of pancreatic tumors with nanocage-based targeted contrast agent

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K16333
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: KAWANO Takahito 九州大学, 先端医療イノベーションセンター, 特任助教 (90526831)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: MRI / 造影剤 / DDS / 画像診断システム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Contrast agents with greater specificity and sensitivity are required for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancers by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, small heat shock protein 16.5 (Hsp16.5)-based nanocages conjugated to gadolinium(III)-chelated contrast agents and iRGD peptides (which target neuropilin-1 expressed on pancreatic cancer cells) were developed. MRI data showed that larger nanocages had higher T1 relaxivity than smaller nanocages. Molecular MRI with protein nanocages was enabled to detect neuropilin-1-positive cells and to produce strong signal enhancement of spontaneous pancreatic tumors in engineered mouse models. Novel iRGD-modified nanocages displayed potential as a specific and sensitive MRI contrast agent for the diagnosis of pancreatic tumors for clinical translation.

Free Research Field

生体機能材料