Jun 21 2017
A team of Researchers from PSG College of Technology, India have created nano-contrast agents for both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical imaging of cancer cells. Their research findings will be published in the forthcoming issue of the journal NANO.
This is a schematic diagram of the europium doped gadolinium oxide nanorods and the silica coating to improve the biocompatibility. Invitro cytotoxicity analysis, invitro magnetic resonance imaging and optical imaging of the prepared samples were carried out. (CREDIT - NANO Journal)
Early detection of cancer remains a challenge to Clinicians and Researchers. To diagnose the cancer cells, a variety of imaging modalities are being employed. Among these modalities, MRI and optical imaging are integrated to form dual modal imaging. Europium doped gadolinium oxide nanorods were synthesized by co-precipitation method. The nanoparticles were coated with silica to enhance the biocompatibility. The invitro cytotoxicity results reveal that the developed contrasts are not lethal at the lower concentrations. Invitro MR images show that the bright contrasts are generated when the concentration is increased.
The developed nano-contrast serves for both MRI and optical imaging. Therefore, the imaging of cancer with higher sensitivity and spatial resolution is possible. The mortality rate can also be reduced.
Dr. R. Arun Kumar, Associate Professor, PSG College of Technology
One of the Authors (Ms. T. Gayathri) is grateful to TEQIP for providing financial assistance. Additional research on the optimization of the size, morphology and concentration of the nanorods are being done for optimized results. Additional Co-Authors of the paper are T. Gayathri from PSG College of Technology, B. S. Panigrahi from Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam and B. Devanand from PSG Hospitals.