Michael V. McConnell, MD, MSEE

Publication Details

• High-contrast in vivo visualization of microvessels using novel FeCo/GC magnetic nanocrystals.

  Lee JH, Sherlock SP, Terashima M, Kosuge H, Suzuki Y, Goodwin A, Robinson J, Seo WS, Liu Z, Luong R, McConnell MV, Nishimura DG, Dai H. Magn Reson Med. 2009; 62 (6): 1497-509

  FeCo-graphitic carbon shell nanocrystals are a novel MRI contrast agent with unprecedented high per-metal-atom-basis relaxivity (r(1) = 97 mM(-1) sec(-1), r(2) = 400 mM(-1) sec(-1)) and multifunctional capabilities. While the conventional gadolinium-based contrast-enhanced angiographic magnetic MRI has proven useful for diagnosis of vascular diseases, its short circulation time and relatively low sensitivity render high-resolution MRI of morphologically small vascular structures such as those involved in collateral, arteriogenic, and angiogenic vessel formation challenging. Here, by combining FeCo-graphitic carbon shell nanocrystals with high-resolution MRI technique, we demonstrate that such microvessels down to approximately 100 mum can be monitored in high contrast and noninvasively using a conventional 1.5-T clinical MRI system, achieving a diagnostic imaging standard approximating that of the more invasive X-ray angiography. Preliminary in vitro and in vivo toxicity study results also show no sign of toxicity.

  PubMedID: 19859938