The development of non-radiative probes for in vivo applications

Recently, the field of activatable probes has been extended from fluorescence to magnetic resonance (MR). Magnetic relaxation switches take advantage of the change in T2 relaxation time that occurs upon binding of multiple bioconjugated superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles to a target. Here, we use a model system to detect biotinilated BSA using switchable magnetic particles. The presence of the biotinilated BSA results in the aggregation of nanoparticles and leads to a substantial decrease in the T2 relaxation time. Magnetic relaxation switches show great promise for clinical in vitro diagnostics and in vivo imaging since changes in T2 are independent of the sample medium. Tests can be performed in turbid solutions without loss of sensitivity, unlike with fluorescence measurements.