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Biosensors: Distance makes the signal grow stronger

Nature Reviews Materials volume 2, Article number: 17011 (2017) Cite this article

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The sensing platform is a modular assembly comprising an MRI ‘enhancer’ and ‘quencher’ that are separated by a linker. Electron spin fluctuations in the paramagnetic enhancer nanoparticle accelerate the relaxation of excited water protons and thus increase the T1 MRI signal. By contrast, the superparamagnetic quencher nanoparticle slows the spin fluctuations in the enhancer, thereby suppressing the T1 signal when the two particles are closer than a critical distance. Accordingly, modulation of the distance between the two particles changes the signal intensity and forms the basis of the sensor.

The researchers had previously developed dual-mode MRI contrast agents incorporating both paramagnetic and superparamagnetic materials in a core–shell design. Now, by connecting the different nanomaterials through responsive linkers, they are able to follow biological processes that cause cleavage or unfolding of the linker (which increases the signal) and processes that bind initially unbound particles (which quenches the signal). “Our previous studies focused on the correlation of T1 and T2 MR imaging modes to construct high-contrast MRI probes. In this work, we introduce the concept of a nanoruler-based, two-component magnetic material that functions as a versatile ‘on/off’ MRI sensing platform,” explains Cheon.

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References

  1. Choi, J.-s . et al. Distance-dependent magnetic resonance tuning as a versatile MRI sensing platform for biological targets. Nat. Mater. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nmat4846 (2017)

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Authors
  1. Adam Brotchie
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Brotchie, A. Biosensors: Distance makes the signal grow stronger. Nat Rev Mater 2, 17011 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/natrevmats.2017.11

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