Application of HN-FeO Nanoparticles for Prostate Cancer Magnetic Resonance Imaging in an Animal Model

This paper presents the efficacy of a contrast agent based on HN-FeO nanoparticles for the detection of prostate cancer in an animal model using a preclinical 9.4 T MRI system. The relaxivities r and r of the nanoparticles were 6.31 mMs and 8.33 mMs, respectively. Nanoparticles injected in a concentration of 2 mg Fe/mL decreased the tumor-relative T relaxation across all animals from 100 to 76 ± 26, 85 ± 27, 89 ± 20, and 97 ± 16 12 min 1 h, 2 h, and 24 h post injection, respectively. The corresponding T decrease in muscle tissues was 90 ± 20, 94 ± 23, 99 ± 12, and 99 ± 14. The relative T changes in the tumor were 82 ± 17, 89 ± 19, 97 ± 14, and 99 ± 8 12 min, 1 h, 2 h, and 24 h post injection, respectively, while, for muscle tissues, these values were 95 ± 11, 95 ± 8, 97 ± 6, and 95 ± 10 at the corresponding time points. The differences in the relative T and T were only significant 12 min after injection ( < 0.05), although a decrease was visible at each time point, but it was statistically insignificant ( > 0.05). The results showed the potential application of HN-FeO nanoparticles as contrast agents for enhanced prostate cancer MRI.