Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1804225 | Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials | 2007 | 7 Pages |
Acute rejection in organ transplant is signaled by the proliferation of T-cells that target and kill the donor cells requiring painful biopsies to detect rejection onset. An alternative non-invasive technique is proposed using a multi-channel superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer to detect T-cell lymphocytes in the transplanted organ labeled with magnetic nanoparticles conjugated to antibodies specifically attached to lymphocytic ligand receptors. After a magnetic field pulse, the T-cells produce a decaying magnetic signal with a characteristic time of the order of a second. The extreme sensitivity of this technique, 105 cells, can provide early warning of impending transplant rejection and monitor immune-suppressive chemotherapy.