Abstract: Herein, we develop FePt@Fe2O3 core-shell magnetic nanoparticles as a T2 magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent as well as a drug carrier for potential cancer theranostic applications. The FePt@Fe2O3 core-shell nanoparticles are synthesized and then functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Folic acid (FA) is conjugated on… Abstract: Herein, we develop FePt@Fe2O3 core-shell magnetic nanoparticles as a T2 magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent as well as a drug carrier for potential cancer theranostic applications. The FePt@Fe2O3 core-shell nanoparticles are synthesized and then functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Folic acid (FA) is conjugated on the surface of FePt@Fe2O3-PEG nanoparticles for effective targeting of folate receptor (FR)-positive tumor cells. A chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin (DOX), is then loaded onto those nanoparticles via hydrophobic physical adsorption, for targeted intracellular drug delivery and selective cancer cell killing. We then use those FePt@Fe2O3-PEG nanoparticles for in vivo MR imaging, observing obvious tumor MR contrasts, which resulted from both passive tumor accumulation and active tumor targeting of nanoparticles. Moreover, both in vitro and in vivo studies uncover no obvious toxicity for FePt@Fe2O3-PEG nanoparticles. Therefore, our PEGylated FePt@Fe2O3 core-shell nanoparticles could serve as a promising multifunctional theranostic nano-platform in imaging guided cancer therapy.Graphical Abstract: Herein, we develop FePt@Fe2O3 core-shell magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a T2 magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent as well as a drug carrier. In vitro targeted drug delivery and in vivo tumor-targeted MR imaging, have both been realized using this novel type of magnetic nanoparticles. No noticeable short-term toxicity of those nanoparticles is found in our careful in vivo toxicology examinations. Our results suggest that FePt@Fe2O3 core-shell nanoparticles with appropriate surface engineering may be a promising T2 MR contrast agent potentially useful for in vivo molecular imaging as well as cancer theranostics.
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