Magnetic resonance imaging of endothelial cells with vectorized iron oxide nanoparticles.

We propose a method for obtaining superparamagnetic nanoparticles based on iron oxide and their water suspensions. The structure and size of nanoparticles were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The nanoparticles also contained a fluorescent dye Dil C18. Cytotoxicity of obtained aqueous suspension was studied by MTT assay; low toxicity of nanoparticles was demonstrated. High T2-relaxivity of nanoparticles allows using them as a contrast agent for MRI. After incubation of cerebellar sections with nanoparticles vectorized with antibodies to antigen AMVB1, specific visualization of blood vessels was detected.