# Advancing Kidney Nanowarming through Scaleable Coating of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2020 · $37,216

## Abstract

Advancing Kidney Nanowarming through Scaleable Coating of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
ABSTRACT
The inability to preserve donor kidneys for more than a few hours significantly contributes to organ shortages, poor
organ matching, and poor quality of life for transplant recipients. Using radiofrequency excited iron oxide nanoparticles
(IONPs) dispersed in cryoprotectants (CPAs), the Bischof group at the University of Minnesota has successfully
rewarmed small (< 80 mL) cryopreserved (-140 ºC) biological samples, including a rabbit kidney. To reliably produce
IONPs at a scale needed to nanowarm whole human kidneys, however, a simpler, biocompatible coated IONP is
needed that 1) is stable in CPAs, 2) has a low volume fraction, and 3) is inexpensive and easy to produce in batches
> 1g. To address this need, we designed an easy-to-make small-molecule phosphonate linker (PLink) which
contains a phosphonate “anchor” for high irreversible binding to iron oxide and a carboxyl “handle” for ligand
attachment. This linker enables ligands such as PEG to bind to IONPs without complex chemistry and can be
used to coat > 1g of IONPs per batch. We already have preliminary data to show that this PLink coating method
preserves heating and imaging IONP properties. In order to develop this technology for use in rewarming
cryopreserved kidneys, we will 1) determine PLink coating effects on heating, imaging, and biocompatibility
properties of two commercially available IONPs and one lab-made IONP, and 2) scale up coated IONP
production for in vivo mouse studies and ex vivo rat kidney perfusion. When we have completed these aims, we
will be able to produce stable coated IONPs in bulk, which will allow us to significantly accellerate the
development of actual kidney cryopreservation and nanowarming for transplantation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9990384
- **Project number:** 1F31DK124968-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Jacqueline L Pasek-Allen
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $37,216
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9990384

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9990384, Advancing Kidney Nanowarming through Scaleable Coating of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (1F31DK124968-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9990384. Licensed CC0.

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