2020 journal article

Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH) Conjugated Magnetite Nanoparticles as MRI Contrast Agents for Breast Cancer Imaging

Applied Sciences.

By: J. Hu*, J. Obayemi*, K. Malatesta*, E. Yurkow*, D. Adler* & W. Soboyejo*

author keywords: triple negative breast cancer (TNBC); luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH); magnetite nanoparticles; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); cancer detection
TL;DR: The potential of LHRH-MNPs as negative contrast agents for the specific detection of TNBC is shown, with consistent darkening effect in T2-weighted maps. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
3. Good Health and Well-being (OpenAlex)
Source: ORCID
Added: August 10, 2022

Targeted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents offer platforms for the specific detection of many diseases, including cancer. This study explores the applicability of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-conjugated PEG-coated magnetite nanoparticles (LHRH-MNPs) to the enhancement of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) detection. In vitro MRI studies were first performed, showing the consistent darkening effect of both MNPs and LHRH-MNPs in T2-weighted maps. Using a mouse model with an induced subcutaneous tumor, MNPs and LHRH-MNPs were injected into xenograft MDA-MB-231. This was done through intratumoral and intravenous injections, respectively, enabling direction comparisons of the two nanoparticles. Intratumorally injected LHRH-MNPs maintained T2 signals within the breast tumors up to two weeks, revealing long-term tumor enhancement ability, while the signal started to recover towards the contrast of the original tumor before injection in the case of MNPs at 24 h post injection. For intravenous administration, LHRH-MNPs continued to darken breast tumor 24 h following injection, whereas contrast enhancement was not obvious in animals injected with MNPs. These results show the potential of LHRH-MNPs as negative contrast agents for the specific detection of TNBC.