Early Detection of Hepatocarcinogenicity in Rats Using MRI with Ferric–Tannic Nanoparticles

Herein, we present molecular nanoparticles of ferric–tannic
complexes (so called ferric–tannic nanoparticles, FT NPs) used
to enhance the MRI signal in the early stage of hepatocarcinoma. FT
NPs were found to accumulate in the hepatic parenchyma without tumor
nodules of Wistar rats in which hepatocarcinogenicity had been induced
using diethylnitrosamine (DEN). The MRI enhancement and accumulation
of FT NPs were clearly observed in the early phase of hepatocarcinogenicity,
which was possibly modulated by various solute carrier family members
present in the entire hepatic parenchyma of the DEN-induced rats.
These findings suggest that MRI with FT NPs is promising for the assessment
of the early stage of hepatocarcinoma.