Peroxidase substrate nanosensors for MR imaging

Magnetic nanoparticle conjugates that self-assemble in the presence of peroxidases were prepared as having large inducible magnetic resonance signals. When a serotonin-nanoparticle conjugate was incubated with myeloperoxidase, an enzyme implicated with inflammation and coronary diseases, there were significant changes in the T2 relaxation times of the solution, as measured by MRI. These nanoparticle conjugates can potentially serve as an in vivo diagnostic tool to identify peroxidase-induced diseases by MRI.