Tracking inflammation in the epileptic rat brain by bi-functional fluorescent and magnetic nanoparticles

Bi-functional fluorescent and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were used to image epileptogenic tissue in the rat brain. The MNPs were injected intravenously to rats with chronic spontaneous seizures. MNPs selectively accumulated within myeloid cells in the hippocampus, in association with inflammation. The MNP signal was detectable by immunohistochemistry and by MRI. This system can contribute to pre-surgical and intra-surgical localization of epileptic foci, and assist in detecting immune system involvement in epilepsy.111