@article{QIMS27357,
author = {Zelong Chen and Yuguo Li and Raag Airan and Zheng Han and Jiadi Xu and Kannie W. Y. Chan and Yikai Xu and Jeff W. M. Bulte and Peter C. M. van Zijl and Michael T. McMahon and Shibin Zhou and Guanshu Liu},
title = {CT and CEST MRI bimodal imaging of the intratumoral distribution of iodinated liposomes},
journal = {Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery},
volume = {9},
number = {9},
year = {2019},
keywords = {},
abstract = {Background: To develop liposomes loaded with iodinated agents as nanosized CT/MRI bimodal contrast agents for monitoring liposome-mediated drug delivery.
Methods: Rhodamine-labeled iodixanol (VisipaqueTM)-loaded liposomes (IX-lipo) were prepared and tested for their properties as a diamagnetic CEST contrast agent in vitro. Mice bearing subcutaneous CT26 colon tumors were injected i.v. with 1 g/kg (535 mg iodine/kg) IX-lipo, and in vivo CT and CEST MR images were acquired on day 3. CT and CEST MR images were also acquired for tumor-bearing mice co-injected with IX-lipo and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α).
Results: In addition to CT contrast, IX-lipo exhibited a strong CEST contrast similar to its non-liposomal form, with a detectability of ~2 nM per liposome. Both CT imaging and CEST MRI showed that i.v. injection of IX-lipo resulted in a rim enhancement of CT26 tumors with a heterogeneous central distribution. In contrast, co-injection of TNF-α caused a significantly augmented CT/MRI contrast in the tumor center. The intratumoral biodistribution of IX-lipo correlated well to the rhodamine patterns observed with fluorescence microscopy.
Conclusions: We have developed a CT/MRI bimodal imaging approach for monitoring the delivery and biodistribution of liposomes by loading them with the clinically approved X-ray/CT contrast agent iodixanol. Our approach may be easily adapted for other-FDA approved iodinated agents and thus has great translational potential.},
issn = {2223-4306}, url = {https://qims.amegroups.org/article/view/27357}
}