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Volume 27
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10.3390/ijms27146147
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Long-Term Biodistribution of Fe3O4@Au Core–Satellite Nanoparticles Assessed by CT and MRI In Vivo

by
Kristina Shpakova
1,2,
Vsevolod Skribitsky
1,2,3,
Yulia Finogenova
1,2,*,
Anton Kasianov
1,3,
Alexey Lipengolts
1,2,3,*,
Angelina Skribitskaya
3,
Anna Smirnova
1,4,
Artem Laktionov
3,
Anton Popov
3,
Andrey Kozlov
3,
Sergey Klimentov
3 and
Elena Grigorieva
1,2
1
N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow 115522, Russia
2
Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119991, Russia
3
Institute for Physics and Engineering in Biomedicine, National Research Nuclear University “MEPhI”, Moscow 115409, Russia
4
The Loginov Moscow Clinical Scientific Center, Moscow 111123, Russia
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(14), 6147; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27146147
Submission received: 26 May 2026 / Revised: 3 July 2026 / Accepted: 6 July 2026 / Published: 9 July 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Metal Nanoparticles)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Nanoparticles combining gold and iron oxide are promising for a wide range of biomedical applications, including photothermal therapy, radiotherapy enhancement, drug delivery, and diagnostic imaging. However, their long-term biodistribution and safety profile remain largely unexplored. Here, we synthesized Fe3O4@AuNP core–satellite nanoparticles (Fe3O4@AuNPs) using femtosecond laser ablation, functionalized them with 15 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG), and characterized them using a panel of physicochemical techniques. Healthy C57BL/6 mice received an intravenous injection of Fe3O4@AuNPs at 730 mg Au/kg and 82 mg Fe/kg, respectively. Biodistribution was monitored by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) over 12 months, after which gold and iron concentrations were measured ex vivo, and long-term toxicity was assessed via histology and blood biochemistry. Nanoparticles accumulated predominantly in the liver and spleen. Quantitative analysis of CT images revealed a gradual decrease in gold content, while MRI showed a progressive reduction in negative contrast in the liver between 6 and 12 months, suggesting possible changes in the Fe3O4 core structure. Over the one-year observation period, no differences in behavior or body weight gain were detected between the treated and control groups. Histological examination revealed no pathological changes other than mild age-related alterations. These findings provide a baseline for the long-term behavior of laser-ablated core–satellite Fe3O4@AuNPs, which is essential for their further development in diagnostic and theranostic applications.
Keywords: laser ablation; bioimaging; contrast agents; biodegradation; polyethylene glycol; toxicity; safety assessment; theranostics; Fenton reaction; protein corona laser ablation; bioimaging; contrast agents; biodegradation; polyethylene glycol; toxicity; safety assessment; theranostics; Fenton reaction; protein corona

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MDPI and ACS Style

Shpakova, K.; Skribitsky, V.; Finogenova, Y.; Kasianov, A.; Lipengolts, A.; Skribitskaya, A.; Smirnova, A.; Laktionov, A.; Popov, A.; Kozlov, A.; et al. Long-Term Biodistribution of Fe3O4@Au Core–Satellite Nanoparticles Assessed by CT and MRI In Vivo. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27, 6147. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27146147

AMA Style

Shpakova K, Skribitsky V, Finogenova Y, Kasianov A, Lipengolts A, Skribitskaya A, Smirnova A, Laktionov A, Popov A, Kozlov A, et al. Long-Term Biodistribution of Fe3O4@Au Core–Satellite Nanoparticles Assessed by CT and MRI In Vivo. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026; 27(14):6147. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27146147

Chicago/Turabian Style

Shpakova, Kristina, Vsevolod Skribitsky, Yulia Finogenova, Anton Kasianov, Alexey Lipengolts, Angelina Skribitskaya, Anna Smirnova, Artem Laktionov, Anton Popov, Andrey Kozlov, and et al. 2026. "Long-Term Biodistribution of Fe3O4@Au Core–Satellite Nanoparticles Assessed by CT and MRI In Vivo" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27, no. 14: 6147. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27146147

APA Style

Shpakova, K., Skribitsky, V., Finogenova, Y., Kasianov, A., Lipengolts, A., Skribitskaya, A., Smirnova, A., Laktionov, A., Popov, A., Kozlov, A., Klimentov, S., & Grigorieva, E. (2026). Long-Term Biodistribution of Fe3O4@Au Core–Satellite Nanoparticles Assessed by CT and MRI In Vivo. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(14), 6147. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27146147

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