Abstract
The development of improved green contrast agents (CAs)for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for detection of specific diseases is rapidly becoming a medical diagnostic imperative, to avoid toxicity on humans and on the environment as today happens by using derivatives of the expensive and rare gadolinium element. We aim to address this urgent issue with the project FUN CODE. The innovative aspect of the project is the use of fluorinated silica nanoparticles (SNPs) as CAs for fluorine –based MRI (19F_MRI), an alternative technique to classical MRI that allows in-depth in vivo detection with high sensitivity, high spatial resolution and does not require radioactive isotopes. Mesoporous SNPs will be prepared to investigate the storage capacity of putative drugs. FUN CODE will produce novel multimodal imaging (nano) systems and multi-drugs carriers for combined therapies within the same SNP with significant impact in nanotechnology and nanomedicine.
Departmental scientific manager
Paola Franchi (local coordinator)
Partnership
Università degli Studi di Trieste