MR Imaging of Angiogenesis in Tumor Xenografts by α vβ 3 - Targeted Magnetofluorescent Micellar Nanoprobes

Chase W. Kessinger¹, Chalermchai Khemtong¹, Osamu Togao¹, Masaya Takahashi¹, Jinming Gao¹

Here we report the use of αvβ3- targeted magnetofluorescent micellar nanoprobes that allowed detection of angiogenic tumor vessels by both fluorescent and magnetic resonance imaging methods. The αvβ3-targeting specificity and temporal tumor accumulation profiles were demonstrated in a human lung tumor xenograft model in nude mice using 3D gradient echo sequences and T2* - weighted dynamic contrast enhancement MRI over one hour.