Aptamer-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging

Sergey V. Stolyar^ab, Anna S. Kichkailo^ac, Roman N. Yaroslavtsev^ab, Oleg A. Bayukov^b, Elena D. Nikolaeva^a, Mikhail V. Rautskii^b, Olga V. Kryukova^a, Vera G. Pakhomova^a, Anastasia A. Koshmanova^c, Eugene V. Morozov<sup>db

a</sup> Federal Research Center Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation
^b Kirensky Institute of Physics FRC KSC SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation
^c Professor V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation
^d Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk

Abstract: The possibility of using superparamagnetic nanoparticles based on magnetite with a polysaccharide coating functionalized with an aptamer for in vivo tumor imaging using MRI was studied using Ehrlich ascites carcinoma as an example. The synthesized nanoparticles were studied using transmission electron microscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy and ferromagnetic resonance. The synthesized nanoparticles were conjugated with the As42 aptamer specific to Ehrlich carcinoma cells (As42-Fe$_3$O$_4$-AG). The possibility of using As42-Fe$_3$O$_4$-AG as a contrast agent for MRI imaging of tumors in mice that formed in the lungs of animals 2 weeks after intrapulmonary administration of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells was shown. Aptamer AS42 specifically delivers superparamagnetic magnetite-based nanoparticles (Fe$_3$O$_4$-AG) that provide contrast in MRI tissue scans. The nanoparticles allow for specific recognition of solid lung tumors using MRI, which is confirmed by autopsy.

Keywords: nanoparticles, magnetite, arabinogalactan, aptamers, MRI.

UDC: 537.635

Received: 29.06.2025
Received in revised form: 01.08.2025
Accepted: 04.09.2025

Language: English