BSA-Based Stabilization of Prussian Blue-Coated Manganese Ferrite Nanoparticles for MRI

Ilosvai Mária, Ágnes and Heydari, Fatemeh and Forgách, László and Minofar, Babak and Kovacs, Noemi and Szigeti, Krisztián and Kristály, Ferenc and Daróczi, Lajos and Németh, Miklós and Ollár, Tamás and Reha, David and Viskolcz, Béla and Vanyorek, László (2026) BSA-Based Stabilization of Prussian Blue-Coated Manganese Ferrite Nanoparticles for MRI. PHARMACEUTICS, 18 (10). pp. 1-27. ISSN 1999-4923

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Abstract

Objectives: Magnetic nanoparticles are promising candidates for T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but their physicochemical stability and biological compatibility remain important challenges for biomedical applications. Methods: In this study, amine-functionalized manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) nanoparticles were coated with Prussian blue (PB) and subsequently formulated with bovine serum albumin (BSA). The resulting formulation was characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, magnetic measurements, dynamic light scattering, molecular dynamics simulations, cytocompatibility assays, and MRI relaxometry. Results: The BSA-formulated nanoparticles were readily redispersed after lyophilization and remained colloidally stable throughout the 6 h observation period in the tested aqueous media. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated persistent close contacts between the MnFe2O4 surface and BSA residues, supporting stable nanoparticle–protein association. MRI relaxometry showed predominantly T2-weighted contrast behavior, with substantially higher r2 than r1 relaxivity. In vitro metabolic activity measurements demonstrated higher relative metabolic activity for the PB-coated formulation than for the corresponding uncoated formulation within the BSA-formulated systems. A pilot in vivo MRI experiment performed in a single mouse demonstrated rapid hepatic accumulation, with a detectable reduction in liver signal intensity within 10 min after administration and persistence of the hepatic signal change at the following-day measurement. Conclusions: These preliminary findings support further investigation of BSA-formulated PB-coated MnFe2O4 nanoparticles as a potential T2-weighted MRI contrast platform.

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