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Future views and prospects
The MRI is based on molecular imaging, where even individual cells or components can be seen. One such cell of interest in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is the macrophage. Inflammation is found in many cardiovascular conditions such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and heart failure. Macrophages (a type of white blood cell that engulfs and digests anything unrelated to the body in its path) are very important to the inflammatory process, as macrophages both destroy foreign matter in the body and then clear the way for repair work. By imaging macrophages at work, doctors can understand more fully how cardiovascular diseases start, and can also evaluate how severe the condition is in real time. This can aid in diagnostics, prognosis and evaluate efficiency of treatments.
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In relation to cardiac diagnostics and treatment, nanoparticles have several different prospective uses. With the MRI, a large magnetic field can be created which would use the iron oxide nanoparticles to “pull” medication into the cells, a process known as magnetofection. Magnetic targeting, on the other hand, would use the magnetized nanoparticles to break up thrombi (blood clots). The imaging aspect could also make it possible to “track” magnetized cells in the heart in still non-invasive manner and even evaluate cell grafts and cell based therapies. It is also hoped that the medication, Ferumoxytol, may be used to differentiate between acute myocardial inflammation from old myocardial damage, which opens up the possibilities of observing early stages of heart transplant rejection and cardiac tumors.
References
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Alam, S.R., Stirrat, C., Richards, J., Mirsadraee, S., Semple, S.I., Tse, G., Henriksen, P., Newby, D.E. 2015. Vascular and plaque imaging with ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide. [Review] Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. 17:83, 2015 Sep 18.
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