Figure 3.

In vitro MRI.

Notes: The cells were treated with the liposomes or Gd-DTPA for 4 h at 37°C, which had an equivalent Gd-DTPA concentration (1 mM). In the competitive assay (M-Gd-NL combined with mannose), the cells were pretreated by mannose (1 mg/mL) for 1 h, followed by M-Gd-NL treatment. Then, contrast-enhanced MRI of the cells was obtained by 4.7T Mouse GE Small Animal MR Imaging System. The square frame indicates the M-Gd-NL treated group showing the signal intensity of macrophages was significantly increased.

Abbreviations: DTPA, N-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; Gd-DTPA, gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic; Gd-NL, Gd-DTPA-loaded liposomes; M-Gd-NL, gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic-loaded mannosylated lipo somes; Man, Mannose; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline.