Differentiation of Native and Reconstructed Ferritin using the MRI Gradient Echo Pulse Sequence

Ferritin is a biological iron storage biomacromolecule, consisting of a spherical protein shell (apoferritin) and mineral iron core. It plays a crucial role in the pathological processes of disrupted iron homeostasis followed by iron accumulation, linked with various disorders (e.g. neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, cirrhosis, cancer, etc.) In vitro reconstructed ferritin, with the assistance of a non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging technique, has the potential to become a suitable biomarker of these pathological processes. Through gradient echo pulse sequencing, we were able to clearly distinguish between native (physiological) and reconstructed/iron-overloaded (pathological) ferritin, which can serve as a starting point for the development of a method for their differentiation. Such method is necessary for the early diagnosis of iron-based diseases.