Abstract Archives of the RSNA, 2004
SSG19-08
Imaging of Single Human Carcinoma Cells in Vitro Using a Clinical Whole Body MR Scanner at 3.0 T
Scientific Papers
Presented on November 30, 2004
Presented as part of SSG19: Physics (MR New Sequences, Systems)
Jens Georg Pinkernelle MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Ulf Karl Martin Teichgraber MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose
Jens Ricke MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Fabian Neumann MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Andreas Jordan PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Harald Bruhn MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Regina Scholz MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
To show that single human carcinoma cells labelled with iron oxide nanoparticles can be detected by MR imaging on a clinical 3.0 T MR scanner with use of a small surface coil only.
Cultures of human colon carcinoma cells (WiDr) were loaded with carboxydextran-coated (Resovist) and aminosilan-coated (MagForce) iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIOs) according to established procedures. Loaded cells were suspended in an agarose matrix at a concentration of 1000 to 10000 cells per ml. These agarose-cell preparations were imaged at 3.0 T in vitro using a small circularly polarized surface coil (diameter 20 mm). MR imaging was accomplished using a T2*-weighted 2D gradient-echo sequence (TR/TE/flip angle = 200ms/25ms/20°), which yielded a resolution up to 39X39X800 micrometers (FOV=20mm, 12 acquisitions) in an acquisition time of 10 min. Average iron loads of each cell preparation were determined photometrically utilizing the Prussian Blue reaction.
Labelling of WiDr cells with both particles, Resovist and MagForce, enabled detectability of single cells at 3.0 T when using a small surface coil in conjunction with a T2*-weighted GE sequence. The detectability threshold ranged at a load of 4-5 microgram iron per 1000000 cells. While sufficient intracellular uptake of MagForce needed only 12 h of incubation time, Resovist-labelled cells afforded an incubation time of at least 48 h to be detectable.
The present study shows that single labelled cells with an iron load higher than 4-5 microgram per 1000000 cells on average can be detected on a clinical MRI scanner at 3.0 T by high-resolution T2*-weigthed imaging using a simple surface coil. Nanoparticles coated with aminosilan (MagForce) were preferred by WiDr cells and taken up faster than the dextran-coated Resovist. Obviating the need for extra hardware additions such as high-powered gradient coils this study shows the feasibility of single-cell tracking on a clinical whole-body MR scanner at 3.0 T.
Pinkernelle, J,
Teichgraber, U,
Ricke, J,
Neumann, F,
Jordan, A,
Bruhn, H,
Scholz, R,
et al, ,
Imaging of Single Human Carcinoma Cells in Vitro Using a Clinical Whole Body MR Scanner at 3.0 T. Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4415472.html
Accessed August 22, 2025