Activity T2.

Development of superparamagnetic MRI contrast agents using a core/shell design, with enhanced biocompatibility and low toxicity.

Sub-activity T2.1. Synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) with iron oxide core and gold shell, capped with polyethylene glycol (PEG), human albumin or glucose.

Sub-activity T2.1.1 Synthesis of core/shell iron oxide/gold NPs capped with PEG, human albumin or glucose.

Sub-activity T2.1.2 Magnetic and physico-chemical characterization of core/shell iron oxide/gold NPs.

Sub-activity T2.1.3 Assessment of NPs interaction with proteins from blood plasma.

Sub-activity T2.2. In vitro studies.

Sub-activity T2.2.1 Viability and cytotoxicity studies.

Sub-activity T2.2.2 NPs intracellular localization.

Sub-activity T2.2.3 In vitro contrast-to-noise ratio evaluation.

Sub-activity T2.3. In vivo studies.

Sub-activity T2.3.1 In vivo contrast-to-noise ratio evaluation.

Sub-activity T2.3.2 In vivo single and repeated dose toxicity study in rat.

Sub-activity T2.3.3 Inflammatory response to core/shell iron oxide/gold NPs.

Results

  • Protocol for synthesis and physico-chemical characterization of nanoparticles
  • Protocol for gold reduction and for production of stable colloidal nanoparticles
  • Results of in vitro studies on different cell lines
  • Ethical approval no. 141 from the Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority Cluj for animal testing (November 13, 2018).
  • National Patent Application: Method for obtaining nanoparticles with magnetite core and glucose-stabilized gold coating. Registration no. A 2019 00571/16.09.2019.
  • Published papers:
  1. Structural and magnetic characterization of Fe3O4 nanoparticles synthesized at room temperature. G. Souca, S. Mican, A. Stefancu, V. Chis, R. Tetean, N. Leopold. Studia UBB Physica, Vol. 61 (LXI), 2, 2016 (December), pp. 83‐90.
  2. Rho-kinase inhibition ameliorates dasatinib-induced endothelial dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. C. Fazakas, C. Nagaraj, D. Zabini, A.G. Vegh, L.M. Marsh, I. Wilhelm, I. Krizbai, H. Olschewski, A. Olschewski, Z. Bálint. Frontiers in Physiology, Vascular Physiology (Front. Physiol., 9:537. 15 May 2018 https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00537).
  3. SERS-based quantification of albuminuria in the normal-to-mildly increased range. A. Stefancu, V. Moisoiu, C. Bocsa, Z. Balint, D.T. Cosma, I.A. Veresiu, V. Chis, N. Leopold, F. Elec. Analyst, Issue 22, 2018; paper has a coverpage.
  4. Anisotropic Gold Nanoparticle-Cell Interactions Mediated by Collagen. O. T. Marisca, N. Leopold. Materials, 12(7), 1131; doi:10.3390/ma12071131.
  5. Assessment of gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles as negative T2 contrast agent in small animal MRI studies. Ș. D. Iancu, C. Albu, L. Chiriac, R. Moldovan, A. Ștefancu, V. Moisoiu, V. Coman, L. Szabo, N. Leopold, Z. Bálint. International Journal of Nanomedicine. 2020; 15: 4811–4824. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S253184.
  6. Photothermal property assessment of gold nanoparticle assemblies obtained by hydroxylamine reduction. I. S. Tódor, O. T. Marisca, D. Rugină, Z. Diaconeasa, L. F. Leopold, C. Coman, E. Antonescu, L. Szabó, Ș. D. Iancu, Z. Bálint, N. Leopold. Colloid and Polymer Science (2020) Published: 17 August 2020 / https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-020-04721-5.
  • Conferences
  1. Title: Fast synthesis of gold coated magnetic nanoparticles

Authors: L. Szabó, A. Stefancu, S.r Mican, L.F. Leopold, Z. Bálint, R. Tetean, N. Leopold

Conference: XIVth International Conference on Molecular Spectroscopy. From Molecules to Nano- and Biomaterials (ICMS 2017), September 3–7, 2017, Kraków – Białka Tatrzańska, Poland.

  1. Title: Raman and fluorescence mapping for lipofuscin and norbixin distribution in retinal epithelial cells

Authors: S. Iancu, V. Moisoiu, A. Stefancu, A. Biriș, O. Chakirou, C. Coman, L.F. Leopold, L. Szabo, Z. Balint, N. Leopold

Conference: International Conference on Biomedical Photonics, March 16–17, 2018, Montpellier, France.

  1. Title: SERS on serum, synovial fluid and urine for diagnostic purposes

Authors: V. Moisoiu, A. Stefancu, N. Leopold

Conference: Raman 4 Clinics – Working Group 1 Meeting, Therapeutic monitoring of anti-tumoral drugs and antibiotics in body fluids, March 26–27, 2018, Trieste, Italy.

  1. Title: Iron Oxide-Gold Nanoparticles Functionalised with Glucose as Potential Superparamagnetic Contrast Agents

Authors: S. Iancu, V. Moisoiu, A. Stefancu, A. Biriș, L. Szabo, Z. Balint, N. Leopold

Conference: National Biophysics Conference 2018, September 7–10, 2018, Bucharest, Romania

  1. Title: Specific adatoms for anionic and cationic analytes in SERS

Authors: N. Leopold, A. Stefancu, V. Moisoiu, S. Iancu

Conference: SERS Round Table 2018, November 14-16, 2018, Poltersdorf, Germany

  1. Title: Biofluid analysis by SERS for point-of-care diagnosis

Authors: N. Leopold, A. Stefancu, V. Moisoiu, S. Iancu

Conference: SERS Round Table 2018, November 14-16, 2018, Poltersdorf, Germany

  1. Title: Assessment of anionic species adsorption onto silver nanoparticles by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)

Authors: S. Iancu, A. Stefancu, V. Moisoiu, Z. Bálint, N. Leopold

Conference: ICASS: 3rd International Conference on Applied Surface Science, June 17–20, 2019, Pisa, Italy

  1. Title: The role of Ag+ , Ca2+ , Mg2+, Pb2+, Al3+ adions for sers of anionic species

Authors: S. D. Iancu, A. Stefancu, V. Moisoiu, Z. Bálint, L. F. Leopold, N. Leopold

Conference: 7th International Conference on Advanced Applied Raman Spectroscopy – Raman Fest 2019, June 24–25, 2019, Oxford, Great Britain