Toward early cancer detection using superparamagnetic relaxometry in a SQUID-based ULF-MRI system

To detect cancer at a very early state it is essential to detect a very small quantity of cancerous cells. One very sensitive method relies on targeting the cancer cells using antibody labeled single-core magnetic nanoparticles and detecting the relaxation of the magnetization using instruments based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). However, the localization suffers from inverse-problem issues similar to those found in magnetoencephalography. On the other hand, the same magnetic nanoparticles can also work as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. Through the combination of superparamagnetic relaxometry and ultra-low field magnetic resonance imaging (ULF MRI), in one and the same instrument, the accuracy of the magnetic moment localization can be enhanced and anatomical information can also be obtained. Results on superparamagnetic relaxometry and the dipole localization accuracy in our seven-channel low-Tc SQUID-gradiometer array are reported.