Abstract #1933

Towards the Implementation of Hyperpolarized, Functionalized Silicon Nanoparticles as in vivo Colorectal Molecular Imaging Agents

Nicholas Whiting¹, Jingzhe Hu¹,², Maja Cassidy³, Marc Ramirez¹, James A. Bankson¹, Niki Millward¹, David Menter¹, Marsha Frazier¹, Charles Marcus,³⁴, Pratip Bhattacharya⁵

¹The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States; ²Bioengineering Department, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States; ³Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States; ⁴University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; ⁵University of Texas, Houston, TX, United States

We describe 29Si magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging of hyperpolarized silicon nanoparticles ranging from 20 nm to 2um. The enhanced detection sensitivity, long hyperpolarization decay times (T1 ~40 minutes), and amenable surface chemistry as well as biocompatibility and biodegrability of these nanoparticles make them potentially well-suited as cancer targeting agents. We discuss optimizations to the nanoparticle size, porosity, and surface functionalization with regard to polarization dynamics. Future studies will investigate the viability of functionalized silicon nanoparticles as in vivo targeting agents for the early detection of colorectal polyps and tumors on murine models.