Medical News Observer

Researchers from Michigan State University propose a novel non-invasive magnetic particle imaging (MPI) to monitor chemotherapy release in vivo. This method employs superparamagnetic nanoparticles as the contrast agent to monitor drug release in the body.

In this study researchers designed iron oxide nanocomposite loaded with a chemotherapy drug doxorubicin which serves as a drug delivery system and magnetic particle imaging (MPI) quantification tracer. They showed that nanocomposite-induced MPI signal changes display a linear correlation with the release rate of doxorubicin over time.

Researchers performed this study in both in-vitro cell cultures and murine breast cancer model.

Implications: In vivo drug monitoring technologies are important as they monitor adequate drug release at the site of tumors. Being non-invasive as it is easier to perform and repeat.

This research is published Nano Letters (ACS publications)