Novel MR imaging nanoprobe for hepatocellular carcinoma detection based on manganese-zinc ferrite nanoparticles: in vitro and in vivo assessments

Purpose: Achieving new contrast enhancer agents that can produce high-resolution images in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a minimum dose and side effects has always been important.

Methods: Herein, the pegylated curcumin-coated manganese-zinc ferrite nanoparticles (MZF@CA-PEG-CUR NPs) have been reported as an MR imaging nanoprobe in hepatocellular carcinoma detection in the murine model for the first time. In vitro studies were done on HEPA 1-6 cancer cells and L929 as normal cells, and in vivo studies were done on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using xenograft models of HCC.

Results: The prepared NP had a diameter of 105 nm with narrow size distribution and was superparamagnetic with a saturated magnetization (Ms) of 39 emu/g. The NP was biocompatible without any significant hemolysis and cytotoxicity. Prussian blue staining showed more cellular uptake of HEPA 1-6 compared to L929 control cells after incubation (P < 0.05). The concentration of Fe in mice blood confirmed the plasma half-life of about 3 h; it seems the PEGylation increased the circulation time. ICP-OES of Fe showed the highest tumor localization for MZF@CA-CUR-PEG NPs, due to passive accumulation, compared to the other mice studied organs. The r₂ relaxivity of NPs was 134.89 mM^{- 1} s^{- 1}, and in vitro MRI demonstrated better effects in HEPA 1-6 cells than in L929 (P < 0.05). Also, in vivo MR images showed signal enhancement efficacy in tumor-bearing mice.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the MZF@CA-CUR-PEG nanoprobe could be a promising candidate as an MR imaging agent in hepatocellular carcinoma early detection.