With the use of nanotechnology in medical applications, new methods in imaging and treatment are being developed. Research studies are continuing rapidly all over the world for the medical applications of theranostic (therapy + diagnostic) nanoparticles suitable for both therapy and imaging. Magnetic nanoparticle-based methods offer various advantages for imaging and therapy.

Imaging with Magnetic Nanoparticles

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are mostly used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in healthcare due to their unique physical structure and magnetic susceptibility. MNPs have features such as providing high-resolution images, being directed to specific targets with an externally applied magnetic field, generating signals regardless of depth, being integrated into different molecules (drugs, antibodies, nucleic acids, etc.) with their surface structure and being biocompatible. MNPs can be directly visualized with a new method, Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI).

Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) Method

In MPG, real-time, three-dimensional images with high resolution and sensitivity can be obtained using the magnetization response of magnetic nanoparticles depending on the externally applied magnetic field.

In MPI, unlike Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the tissues are not visualized anatomically, only the magnetic nanoparticles introduced into the body are visualized.

The MPI method, which has not yet been applied in humans, has the potential to be used in many different applications such as vascular imaging, imaging of intravascular devices, cell labeling and tracking, targeted drug release, tumor treatment monitoring and therapy.

At ASELSAN Research Center, an open-edge system architecture was proposed and a prototype MPI system was developed for research studies.