Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as T[2] MR imaging contrast agent for detection of breast cancer [MCF-7] cell

Background: Advances of nanotechnology have led to the development of nanomaterials with both potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Among them, Super Paramagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles [SPIONs] have received particular attention. Modified EDC coupling fraction was used to fabricate the SPION-C595 as an MR imaging contrast agent for breast cancer detection in early stages

Methods: Nanoprobe characterization was confirmed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy [FT-IR], Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy [SEM-EDAX], and Photon Correlation Spectroscopy [PCS]. Protein and iron concentration of nanoprobe was examined by standard method. MTT assay was performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the nanoprobe in breast cancer cell line [MCF-7]. T[2]-weighted MR imaging was performed to evaluate the signal enhancement on T[2] relaxation time of nanoprobe using spin-echo pulse sequence

Results: As results showed, SPIONs-C595 provided active targeting of breast cancer cell [MCF-7] at a final concentration of 600 micro gFe/ml. The final concentration of protein was calculated to be at 0.78 micro gprotein/ml. The hydrodynamic size of the nanoprobe was 87.4+/-0.7 nm. The MR imaging results showed a good reduction of T[2] relaxation rates for the highest dose of SPIONs-C595

Discussion: Based on the results, SPIONs-C595 nanoprobe has a potential in T[2]- weighted MR imaging contrast agent for breast cancer cell [MCF-7] detection

In vitro study of SPIONs-C595 as molecular imaging probe for specific breast cancer [MCF-7] cells detection

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] plays an essential role in molecular imaging by delivering the contrast agent into targeted cancer cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the C595 monoclonal antibody conjugated super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles [SPIONs-C595] for the detection of breast cancer cell [MCF-7]

Methods: The conjugation of monoclonal antibody and nanoparticles was confirmed using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and photon correlation spectroscopy. The selectivity of the nanoprobe for breast cancer cells [MCF-7] was obtained by Prussian blue, atomic emission spectroscopy, and MRI relaxometry

Results: The in vitro MRI showed that T2 relaxation time will be reduced 76% when using T2-weighed magnetic resonance images compared to the control group [untreated cells] at the dose of 200 micro g Fe/ml, as the optimum dose. In addition, the results showed the high uptake of nanoprobe into MCF-7 cancer cells

Conclusion: The SPIONs-C595 nanoprobe has potential for the detection of specific breast cancer

Non invasive XRF analysis of human hair for health state determination of breast tissue

Background: Using hair samples to analyze the trace element concentrations is of interest among many researchers. X-ray fluorescence [XRF] and X-ray diffraction [XRD] are the most common methods in studying the structure and concentration of elements of tissues and also crystalline materials, using low energy X-ray

Objectives: In the present study, the detection ability of Wave Length X-ray Fluorescence [WLXRF] of breast cancer at early stages was evaluated and the results were compared with other routine modalities such as mammography

Materials and Methods: Hair samples of 54 women [including 27 healthy and 27 patients] with average age of 52.03 +/- 11.44 years were analyzed. All the sample donors were Iranian women. For the measurements Wave Length X-ray Fluorescence [WLXRF] method was used

Results: Trace elements in healthy individuals were higher than those in cancer patients. In addition, sensitivity of the used method [WLXRF] was 96% compared to mammography [77%] as a gold standard for breast cancer detection

Conclusions: Trace elements in healthy individuals were higher than cancer patients and it seems that WLXRF may be used as a safe, low cost and reliable method with sensitivity higher than those of the other two relevant methods, XRD and mammography

Effects of early liothyronine consumption after radioiodine therapy on accumulated dose and exposure rate in patients with thyroid carcinoma

Patients administered with a therapeutic dose of 131I for thyroid cancer treatment are potential sources of unacceptably high radiation exposure to other individuals, particularly the patient's immediate family members. The aim of this study is to investigate effects of early liothyronine consumption after radio-iodine therapy on accumulated dose and exposure rate in patients with thyroid carcinoma. This study was also undertaken to provide specific guidelines as to when 131I treated thyroid cancer patients may be safe to resume close contact with their family members. Forty patients treated postoperatively by 131I for the first time were studied. These patients were divided into two groups of twenty [group 1 with liothyronine and group 2 without liothyronine]. The administered dose was 100 mCi for all patients. Thermoluminescent dosimeter chips were placed on the neck of the patients to measure thyroid dose. Liothyronine was administered 24 h after iodine therapy. Accumulated dose was measured at 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after iodine therapy. Exposure rate was also measured at 0.5, 1 and 1.5 meters from the patient's body axis with Geiger-Muller detectors at discharge time and one week later. The findings indicated that liothyronine reduces accumulated dose of thyroid and stimulates rapid washout from the body after 48 h. The patient exposure rate was significantly higher in group 2 during or one week following discharge from the hospital. This study shows that liothyronine consumption decreases the exposure rate of patients at discharge time to the levels lower than that recommended by regulatory organizations

[Estimation of absorbed dose of salivary glands in radioiodine therapy and its reduction using pilocarpine]

The use of radioactive iodine [131I] has become an important adjunct to the treatment of thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism. Salivary gland has the ability to concentrate radioactive iodine under normal circumstances. Salivary gland dysfunction and dry mouth are the common side effects of high-dose radioiodine therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine the absorbed dose of salivary glands. Twenty patients who were divided into two groups of 10 were studied [A group without pilocarpine and the B group received pilocarpine during treatment]. The absorbed dose of parotid glands and the submandibular glands of patients was measured using thermoluminescent dosimeter [TLD] at three different times [24 hours, 8 days and 3 months after treatment]. The attenuation coefficient of patients and the effects of pilocarpine were also determined. In group A total attenuation coefficient was 0.335, 0.323, and 0.357 for parotid glands and the right and left submandibular glands, respectively. In group B total attenuation coefficient was 0.462, 0.482, and 0.514 for parotid glands and the right and left submandibular glands, respectively. The results also showed the dose decreases to 1 cGy after 3 and 2 half life for A and B group, respectively. The findings showed that the dose decreases to 1 cGy after 3 half life of Iodine therapy. The exponential coefficient attenuation of salivary glands varied 3% to 4%. Pilocarpine appears to be effective in increasing excretion of radioactive iodine and enhancing coefficient attenuation [up to 1.5 to 2 times]

Gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid conjugated with monoclonal antibody C595 as new magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents for breast cancer [MCF-7] detection

The monoclonal antibody, C595, against breast cancer cell line was conjugated with cyclic anhydride gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid [Gd-cDTPAa] to produce Gd-DTPA-C595 and used as specific breast cancer cell line [MCF-7] contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]. After incubation of breast cancer cell line [MCF-7], with different contrast agents [Gd-DTPA-C595, Gd-DTPA, Gd-H and GdCl[3]] at 37°C for 12 h and twice washing, the T[1] relaxation times and the signal enhancement of washing solutions of different contrast agents are examined by nuclear magnetic resonance and results are compared. The percent of Gd that attached into the cell membrane of MCF-7 was also measured by UV spectrophotometer. The data indicate that the T[1] relaxation of washing solutions at 11.4 Tesla [500 MHz] in Gd-DTPA-C595 was greater than in Gd-DTPA solutions and was much greater than in control. These conjugates [Gd-DTPA-C595] show high specificity for breast cancer cell line [MCF-7]. The gadolinium concentration in washing solutions measured using UV-spectrophotometer showed no gadolinium attached into the cell membrane in the GdCl[3] as control. Good cell membrane uptakes of Gd-DTPA-C595 indicate selective delivery of this agent into the breast cancer cell membrane and have considerable potential in diagnostic MRI