Type Of Media：医薬業界Web媒体
Publication/Magazine/Media：医薬通信社
New MRI contrast agent based on “self-folding” of a single polymer
Summary:
The research team led by Dr. Yutaka Miura (Associate Professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology), belonging to R&D Theme 3, has developed a new polymer MRI contrast agent that can perform both MRI diagnosis and neutron capture therapy for cancer simultaneously. Traditional contrast agents use gadolinium, which is environmentally toxic, at high concentrations, raising concerns about side effects and environmental impact. The newly developed contrast agent utilizes the phenomenon of self-folding to achieve nanoparticle formation under 10nm. This allows for high-precision cancer detection with smaller doses, contributing to reduced environmental burden.
In mouse experiments, selective high-concentration delivery to tumors was confirmed, and high-resolution visualization of distribution using MRI was achieved. This contributes to the evaluation of the effectiveness of neutron capture therapy. The results are expected to lead to the development of theranostic agents that can perform both diagnosis and treatment simultaneously, with anticipated use in medical settings.
Moreover, this research suggests the potential for overcoming the risks associated with existing contrast agents, offering a new treatment method that is friendly to both patients and the environment. The research findings have been published in "Advanced Science," drawing attention in the fields of materials science and medicine. This is expected to lead to safer and more effective cancer diagnosis and treatment.
http://change.kawasaki-net.ne.jp/en/project/performance/1114
