Abstract
A nanoparticle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent was developed by conjugation of more than 500 gadolinium chelate groups onto a viral capsid. The high density of paramagnetic centers and slow tumbling rate of modified MS2 capsids provided enhanced T1 relaxivities up to 7200 mM-1s-1 per particle. A bimodal imaging agent was generated by sequential conjugation of fluorescein and Gd3+ chelate. These results illustrate the potential for engineering natural protein assemblies to address bionanotechnology applications.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Binding Sites
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Capsid / chemistry*
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Capsid / ultrastructure
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Coated Materials, Biocompatible / chemistry
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Contrast Media / chemistry*
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Gadolinium DTPA / chemistry*
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Image Enhancement / methods
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Levivirus / chemistry*
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Levivirus / ultrastructure*
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Magnetics*
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Materials Testing
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Multiprotein Complexes / chemistry
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Multiprotein Complexes / ultrastructure
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Nanostructures / chemistry*
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Nanostructures / ultrastructure
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Particle Size
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Protein Binding
Substances
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Coated Materials, Biocompatible
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Contrast Media
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Multiprotein Complexes
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Gadolinium DTPA