Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is capable of three dimentional noninvasive imaging of opaque tissues at near cellular resolution. Among the imaging techniques available, MRI has, perphaps, the greatest potential to exploit the possibilities that molecular imaging presents. Nanoparticles (1- 100 nm and 100-2500 nm in size) are the focus of intense interest, due their potential applications in the biomedicine and especially as labelling agents in imaging. This research is based on development of nanoparticles (immunoliposomes) as targeted contrast agents for molecular magnetic imaging of human multiple myeloma. It uses an application of antibody (CD138; syndecan-1) to target liposomes and other particles for delivery of MRI contrast agents to cell-surface based biomarkers. The use of gadolinium-loaded polychelating amphiphilic polymer (PAP) for incorporation into liposome membranes, and for conjugation with CD138 antibody was also examined. The diagnosis of human multiple myeloma currently requires the performance of a range of tests and the assessment of marrow specimens derived from invasive biopsy. The strategy undertaken in this research should provide an alternative and potentially more beneficial way of addressing this problem.