Responsive Mn-Ferrite Nanoparticles for Multicolor Magnetic Particle Imaging, Sensing, and Reactive Oxygen Species Degradation


Date

2025-06

Publication Type

Journal Article

ETH Bibliography

yes

Citations

Altmetric

Data

Abstract

New possibilities offered by Magnetic Particle Spectroscopy (MPS) and Imaging (MPI) are increasingly being recognized and may accelerate the introduction of MPI into clinical settings. As MPI is a tracer-based imaging method, the design and development of responsive tracers for functional imaging are particularly appealing. Here, Mn-ferrite (Mn$_x$Fe$_{3-x}$O$_4$) nanoparticles with finely tuned magnetic properties and enzyme-like capabilities are reported as potential multifunctional theranostic agents. By adjusting the Mn content in the iron oxide matrix, the magnetic particle imaging signal of different tracers can be tweaked, allowing for the simultaneous quantitative detection of two different tracers in a multi-color approach. The Mn$_2$FeO$_4$ tracers exhibit potent enzyme-like catalytic properties, enabling degradation of reactive oxygen species, including H$_2$O$_2$ and OH$^-$. Due to the readily interchangeable oxidation states of Mn and Fe atoms in the crystal structure, a strong dependence of the magnetic properties is observed on H$_2$O$_2$ exposure, which can be exploited for sensing. This enables, for the first time, the sensing of reactive oxygen species based on magnetic particle spectroscopy and imaging, with sensitivity down to 25 μm H$_2$O$_2$ and complete sensor recovery over time. In summary, Mn-ferrite nanoparticles hold promising potential for imaging, sensing, and degradation of disease-relevant reactive oxygen species.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Volume

4 (6)

Pages / Article No.

2400189

Publisher

Wiley-VCH

Event

Edition / version

Methods

Software

Geographic location

Date collected

Date created

Subject

magnetic particle spectroscopy; nanozyme; sensor; theranostics; tissue injury

Organisational unit

Notes

Funding

181290 - Integrative Engineering of Metal Oxide Nanohybrid-based Surgical Adhesives: From Particle Design to Performance Assessment by Multiscale Analytics (SNF)
205894 - Rationalized Nanoparticle Design for Accurate Magnetic Particle Imaging (SNF)

Related publications and datasets