In vitro characterization of two different ultrasmall iron oxide particles for magnetic resonance cell tracking.

Rationale And Objectives: Comparison of two different ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) particles in terms of their intracellular cell-labeling properties of macrophages and subsequent visualization by MR imaging.

Materials And Methods: Cultures containing the macrophage cell line P-388D1 were incubated with a neutral carboxydextran-coated USPIO preparation (DDM 43/34/103) or an acidic citrate-coated USPIO (VSOP-C125). Experiments were performed in which incubation concentration and duration were varied and phagocytosis and pinocytosis suppressed by specific inhibitors.

A novel formulation for superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) particles enhancing MR lymphography: comparison of physicochemical properties and the in vivo behaviour.

The major aim of this study was to prove or disprove the theories concerning the correlation between physicochemical properties of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) particles and their accumulation in the lymph nodes. New SPIO particles were produced using starch as stabilising polymer shell. The synthesis was done in a two-step procedure using conventional wet-chemical precipitation technique and subsequent coating of the iron oxide cores.