Preparation of Biocompatible Magnetite Nanocrystals for In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Detection of Cancer

Abstract

Biocompatible Fe3O4 magnetic nanocrystals with reactive moieties on the surface can be prepared via a “one-pot” reaction and used straightforwardly in cancer detection by being coupled with a specific cancer-targeting antibody. It is demonstrated that the as-prepared Fe3O4 nanocrystals can potentially be used as effective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents for cancer diagnosis (see figure).