Immune cell-specific delivery of beta-glucan-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for diagnosing liver metastasis by MR imaging

► β-Glucan coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Glu-SPION) for targeting the immune cells residing in the metastatic liver. ► The in vitro uptake of Glu-SPION by peritoneal macrophages and dendritic cells confirmed with Prussian blue staining and MR phantom tube imaging. ► The in vivo accumulation of the particles in liver and lymph node was also tracked with MRI. ► Glu-SPION particles were pre-dominantly accumulated in the macrophages surrounding the metastatic region in liver. ► MR imaging clearly revealed macro- or micro-metastasized tumor regions, due to the preferential uptake of Glu-SPIONs into macrophages.