Peptide Coordinated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhance Magnetic Resonance Imaging

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Ajamu, Samuel O
Area of Honors:
Biomedical Engineering
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Scott H Medina, Thesis Supervisor
Jian Yang, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Peptide
Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
MRI
Contrast Agent
Abstract:
The current technologies at our disposal for diagnostic imaging consist of CT, X-Rays, Ultrasound, PET, and MRI. Among all of these imaging modalities, MRI is one of the most versatile and detailed instruments for imaging internal organs. It is exceptional because it provides clear differences in abnormal and normal tissues and it does not subject patients to x-rays that could be harmful with repetitive use. This thesis will explore a peptide-based material to enhance the capacity of MRI imaging but specifically to cancer tissue. The material is a peptide- based colloidal material that enables the magnetic resonance imaging of cancer cell. The colloidal material will consist of iron oxide particles and metal- chelating peptide that holds the structure together. This peptide and iron oxide colloid will serve as a contrast agent that are controlled to a specific size to ensure that they utilize a phenomenon in cancer tissue called enhanced permeability and retention effect. Overall, the purpose of this thesis is to obtain a better understanding of how peptide can be used for imaging materials. The anticipated outcome of this process will be to obtain qualitative and quantitative information on the effectiveness of the uptake of the peptide chelated iron oxide particles. This aimed to verify the production of the iron- oxide contrast agent and the ability to control their size with a high affinity peptide. The data for effective uptake will be taken using Dynamic Light Scattering. This will be done using controls as a way of quantifying the effects of the peptide on the size of the iron oxide particles. Additionally the effectiveness of the nanoparticles will be measured using MRI to view the magnetic effects of the contrast agents. This will be done on just the particles to see if they retain their magnetic properties. The collective data as a whole will show the way a novel contrast agent passively targeting cancer cells can be produced.