Synthesis and characterization of manganese-loaded core-shell SPIONs for dual T1/T2 weighted MR imaging applications in breast cancer

This study examines the development and characterisation of manganese-loaded mesoporous silica-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4-mSi-NH2-Mn) functionalized with trastuzumab for dualmode T1 and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications in HER2-positive breast cancer. The synthesis process was confirmed through a series of analytical techniques, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and visualized with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analyses. These analyses demonstrated that the nanoparticles had a controlled size, well-defined surface modifications, and superparamagnetic properties. In vitro evaluations showed that the Fe3O4-mSi-NH2-Mn-Tra nanoparticles effectively targeted HER2-positive SKBR3 human breast cancer cell lines, leading to significant cytotoxic effects at an IC50 concentration of 3.12 mu g/mL. Dual-mode imaging revealed that the incorporation of manganese resulted in enhanced T1-weighted signal intensities, while the superparamagnetic iron oxide core exhibited distinct T2 signal quenching. These multifunctional nanoparticles present a promising theranostic platform for precision cancer diagnostics and targeted therapy, offering an innovative solution to enhance imaging and treatment outcomes in HER2-positive breast cancer.