TOP PAGE
ENGLISH
JAPANESE
|
CONNECT WITH US:
Home
About
Services
Contact
Log in
*
Home
Press release
Mar 10, 2021 21:00 JST
Source:
Science and Technology of Advanced Materials
Size matters: Bimodal imaging receives nanoparticle enhancement
A nanoparticle's size is fine-tuned to offer high-resolution images before and during surgical procedures.
TSUKUBA, Japan, Mar 10, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Scientists have found a way to control the size of special nanoparticles to optimize their use for both magnetic resonance and near-infrared imaging. Their approach could help surgeons use the same nanoparticles to visualize tumours just before and then during surgery using the two different imaging techniques. Their findings were published in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.
The scientists injected the nanoparticle solution into the tail veins of live mice and were able to obtain high quality MRI (L) and near-infrared fluorescence (R) scans of tissues and blood vessels.
"Magnetic resonance imaging is routinely used in pre-operative diagnosis, while surgeons have started using near-infrared fluorescence imaging during surgical procedures," says nanobiotechnologist Kyohei Okubo of Tokyo University of Science. "Our nanoparticle probes could provide a bimodality that will be clinically appealing to medical device researchers and doctors."
Ceramic nanoparticles made with the rare earth metals ytterbium (Yb) and erbium (Er) have demonstrated low toxicity and prolonged near-infrared luminescence, showing promise as a contrast agent in MRI scans and a fluorescing agent for near-infrared fluorescence imaging. Images of blood vessels and organs in live bodies can be obtained with the two imaging techniques by further modifying the nanoparticle surfaces with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based polymers. But to improve image resolution, scientists need to have more control over nanoparticle size during the fabrication process.
Okubo and his colleagues used a step-by-step fabrication process that starts with mixing rare earth oxides in water and trifluoracetic acid. The mixture is heated to form a solid. Then it is dissolved in solution, oleic acid is added and gas is removed. So-called rare-earth-doped ceramic nanoparticles form when this solution is cooled.
A few more steps lead to the coating of the nanoparticle surfaces with PEG. The scientists found they could slow the growth rate of the nanoparticles by increasing their concentration before the coating process. This allowed them to form nanoparticles 15 and 45 nanometres in diameter.
The team conducted a series of tests to examine the properties of their nanoparticles. They found that they could be used for obtaining high-quality images of blood vessels in live mice using MRI and near-infrared fluorescence imaging techniques. Further tests showed the nanoparticles exhibited minimal toxicity on mouse fibroblast cells when used in low concentrations. They also have a short half-life, meaning they would be cleared relatively quickly from the body, making them safe for clinical use.
The team next aims to investigate how different distributions of paramagnetic ions on the nanoparticles affect their magnetic properties. They also aim to study whether modifications made to the nanoparticles could make them applicable for use in light-based 'photodynamic' therapies for treating skin cancers and acne, for example.
Further information
Kyohei Okubo
Tokyo University of Science
Email:
kyohei.okubo@rs.tus.ac.jp
About Science and Technology of Advanced Materials Journal
Open access journal STAM publishes outstanding research articles across all aspects of materials science, including functional and structural materials, theoretical analyses, and properties of materials.
Chikashi Nishimura
STAM Publishing Director
Email:
NISHIMURA.Chikashi@nims.go.jp
Press release distributed by ResearchSEA for Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.
Source: Science and Technology of Advanced Materials
Sectors: Electronics, Science & Nanotech, BioTech
Copyright ©2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.
Related Press Release
A new spin on materials analysis
April 17 2024 22:00 JST
Kirigami hydrogels rise from cellulose film
April 12 2024 18:00 JST
Sensing structure without touching
February 27 2024 08:00 JST
Nano-sized probes reveal how cellular structure responds to pressure
November 21 2023 07:00 JST
Machine learning techniques improve X-ray materials analysis
November 17 2023 10:00 JST
A bio-inspired twist on robotic handling
November 14 2023 20:00 JST
GPT-4 artificial intelligence shows some competence in chemistry
October 17 2023 08:00 JST
Closing the loop between artificial intelligence and robotic experiments
August 24 2023 09:00 JST
Machine intelligence for designing molecules and reaction pathways
May 24 2023 09:00 JST
Face-down: Gravity's effects on cell movement
May 13 2023 00:00 JST
More Press release >>
Latest Press Release
DOCOMO and NTT Com Jointly Demonstrate Practicality of DOCOMO's New Multi-platform Cloud-rendering Technology
Jul 26, 2024 17:05 JST
TANAKA Precious Metals Provided Award Items and Ceremony Souvenirs for the International Friendly Matches of the Japan Men's National Blind Football Team at the "DAICEL Blind Football Japan Cup 2024 in Osaka" on July 7
Jul 26, 2024 03:00 JST
Eisai and EcoNaviSta Enter into Business Alliance Agreement Aimed at Building a Dementia Ecosystem and Commence Collaboration
Jul 25, 2024 10:30 JST
Hitachi Awarded Largest Contract in Singapore to Supply 450 Lifts at HDB Blocks
Jul 24, 2024 16:27 JST
Hitachi to Announce Capital Reorganization of Air Conditioning Joint Venture
Jul 24, 2024 15:02 JST
Eisai to Present Dual-Acting Lecanemab Three-Year Efficacy and Safety Data and Discuss Long-Term Outcomes of Continued Treatment at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2024
Jul 23, 2024 20:23 JST
Toyota Material Handling Japan and Fujitsu launch Japan's first service for evaluating forklift safety in the cloud using AI
Jul 23, 2024 11:26 JST
AEON and CJPT working to resolve logistics industry issues and achieve carbon neutrality at AEON Fukuoka XD
Jul 22, 2024 13:52 JST
Rovanpera and Ogier score another TOYOTA GAZOO Racing one-two
Jul 22, 2024 12:30 JST
Team HRC with Japan Post Wins 45th Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race
Jul 22, 2024 11:33 JST
Honda to Hold its Official e-Motorsports Event, "Honda Racing eMS 2024"
Jul 19, 2024 20:04 JST
MHI America Acquires Three Utility-Scale Solar Power Projects in Pennsylvania, Advancing the Company's Energy Transition Strategy
Jul 19, 2024 19:04 JST
JCB and Worldline unveil a new whitepaper offering European merchants invaluable insights into facilitating seamless payments for international consumers
Jul 19, 2024 12:00 JST
Fujitsu Chosen to Help Solving Social Issues Caused by Fake News
Jul 19, 2024 11:30 JST
Champion REIT holds first 'ESG Week'
Jul 18, 2024 20:14 JST
Lexus LBX Adds a New High Performance Variant, the LBX "MORIZO RR"
Jul 18, 2024 17:25 JST
VitalLife and Bumrungrad International Hospital in Thailand Launch NEC's FonesVisuas Test: First Major Deployment Outside Japan, Revolutionizing Disease Risk Prediction
Jul 18, 2024 15:34 JST
Fujitsu publishes CHRO Roundtable Report 2024, summarizing the challenges and implications of the implementation of data-driven human capital management
Jul 18, 2024 10:44 JST
Fujitsu-sponsored professional golfer Ayaka Furue victorious in the Amundi Evian Championship
Jul 16, 2024 23:26 JST
Neste and Mitsubishi Corporation agree on strategic partnership to develop supply chains for renewable chemicals and plastics
Jul 16, 2024 18:36 JST
More Latest Release >>