Curcumin Coated Ultra-Small Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as T۱ Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cancer Cells

Background: The application of nanotechnology in the molecular diagnosis and treatment of cancer is essential. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the influence of curcumin-coated ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) as a T۱ contrast agent in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). . Material and Methods: In this experimental study, the influence of curcumin-coated USPIO (Fe۳O۴@C) on the diagnosis of the cancer cell line was investigated. After synthesis, characterization, and relaxation of Fe۳O۴@C, the contrast changes in T۱-weight MRI to mouse colon carcinoma ۲۶ cell line were evaluated in vitro. Results: Fe۳O۴@C nanoparticles (NPs) are good at imaging; based on a relaxometry test, the r۱ and r۲ relaxivities of Dotarem were ۳.۱۳۹ and ۰.۶۰۳ mM−۱s−۱, respectively. Additionally, the r۱ and r۲ relaxivities of Fe۳O۴@C were ۳.۷۹۲ and ۱.۳ mM−۱s−۱, respectively, with the rate of ۲.۱۵۵ of r۲/r۱ NPs.  Conclusion: The NPs can be identified as a positive contrast agent with a weight of T۱ in MRI. The coresh-ell Fe۳O۴@C NPs can be effective in cancer treatment and diagnosis because of the therapeutic effects of curcumin and the properties of USPIO.

Keywords:

Ultra-small Iron Oxide , Nanoparticles , Curcumin , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Contrast Agent