MRI CONTRAST AGENT FOR LYMPHOGRAPHY BASED ON IRON OXIDE NANOPARTICLES AND METHOD FOR IMAGING LYMPH NODE USING THE SAME

摘要

Provided are a contrast agent for contrast imaging lymph node, which includes iron oxide nanoparticles dispersed and stabilized in an aqueous medium by a mussel adhesive protein-mimetic copolymer, a method for contrast enhanced lymphography using the foregoing contrast agent, and a method for diagnosis of lymph node cancers using the foregoing contrast agent. Using such a mussel adhesive protein-mimetic copolymer, the surface of iron oxide is modified and dispersed well in water to prepare a colloidal solution, which in turn forms the contrast agent containing the colloidal solution. The inventive contrast agent does not have toxicity and is easily taken up to the lymph node to exhibit excellent contrast imaging effects. The contrast agent of the present invention is useful for diagnosis of metastatic cancers.