Detection of amyloid plaques targeted by USPIO-Aβ1-42 in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice using magnetic resonance microimaging

► MRI based detection of Alzheimer's disease plaques is critically needed. ► Our UPSPIO-Aβ1-42 target plaques in vivo and are non-toxic. ► Plaque targeting is confirmed by histology. ► Both T2* and VBM analysis confirm the specificity of our findings. ► This method has the potential for clinical use with further refinement.