Synthesizing Multimodal Imaging Probes and Their Application in Non-Invasive Axonal Tracing by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

Imaging techniques have become much more in demand in modern medicine, especially in fields of disease prognosis, diagnosis and therapeutics. This is because a better understanding of different diseases, characteristics of each patient and further optimizing treatment planning, are all enhanced by advanced imaging techniques. Since each imaging modality has its own merits and intrinsic limitations, combining two or more complementary imaging modalities has become an interesting research area. In this study, gadolinium (Gd3+) doped CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized and used as multimodal imaging probes of two highly complementary imaging modalities: optical imaging and magnetic resonance imaging. The new imaging probes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis absorbance spectra, fluorescence spectra (FL) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The optical / MRI imaging probes were further functionalized by conjugating with the axonal tracer dextran amine (10 kDa) for non-invasive axonal tracing observations. Biocompatibility and MRI contrast effect of prepared multimodal imaging probes were investigated by in vitro cell experiments and MRI scanner. Ultimately, it is hoped that this imaging probe will help us better understand the regeneration mechanisms in real time without sacrificing animals at intervening time-points.