TY - JOUR A2 - Ren, Jinsong AU - Hu, Qingqiao AU - Chen, Xiangxun AU - Liu, Juan AU - Di, Wenjuan AU - Lv, Shan AU - Tang, Lijun AU - Ding, Guoxian PY - 2018 DA - 2018/10/10 TI - Targeted Molecular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Detects Brown Adipose Tissue with Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide SP - 3619548 VL - 2018 AB - The peptide (CKGGRAKDC-NH2) specifically targets the brown adipose tissue (BAT). Here we applied this peptide coupled with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles to detect BAT in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The peptide was conjugated with PEG-coated USPIO nanoparticles to obtain targeted USPIO nanoprobes. Then the nanoprobes for BAT were evaluated in mice. T2-weighted images were performed, precontrast and postcontrast USPIO nanoparticles. Finally, histological analyses proved the specific targeting. The specificity of targeted USPIO nanoprobes was observed in mice. The T2 relaxation time of BAT in the targeted group decreased obviously compared to the controls (P<0.001). Prussian blue staining and transmission electron microscope confirmed the specific presence of iron oxide. This study demonstrated that peptide (CKGGRAKDC-NH2) coupled with PEG-coated USPIO nanoparticles could identify BAT noninvasively in vivo with MRI. SN - 2314-6133 UR - https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3619548 DO - 10.1155/2018/3619548 JF - BioMed Research International PB - Hindawi KW - ER -