Differentiation of Native and Reconstructed Ferritin using the MRI Gradient Echo Pulse Sequence

L. Balejcikovaa,b, O. Strbaka,c, L. Baciak d, J. Kovac b, M. Masarova a, A. Krafcik a, P. Kopcansky b, D. Dobrota c and I. Frollo a aInstitute of Measurement Science, SAS, Dubravska cesta 9, 841 04 Bratislava 4, Slovakia bInstitute of Experimental Physics, SAS, Watsonova 47, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia cBiomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mala Hora 4, 036 01 Martin, Slovakia dFaculty of Chemical and Food Technology STU, Radlinskeho 9, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia

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Ferritin is a biological iron storage biomacromolecule, consisting of a spherical protein shell (apoferritin) and mineral iron core. It plays a crucial role in the pathological processes of disrupted iron homeostasis followed by iron accumulation, linked with various disorders (e.g. neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, cirrhosis, cancer, etc.) In vitro reconstructed ferritin, with the assistance of a non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging technique, has the potential to become a suitable biomarker of these pathological processes. Through gradient echo pulse sequencing, we were able to clearly distinguish between native (physiological) and reconstructed/iron-overloaded (pathological) ferritin, which can serve as a starting point for the development of a method for their differentiation. Such method is necessary for the early diagnosis of iron-based diseases.

DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.131.1093 PACS numbers: 75.60.Ej, 83.85.Fg, 87.61.-c, 87.64.Cc, 87.85.jf