Abstract
Aims: To synthesize block copolymer-based gadolinium nanoparticles (Gd-NPs) and evaluate their potential as a new MRI contrast agent. Materials & Methods: The Gd-NPs were developed through coordination of gadolinium chelates into a pentablock copolymer synthesized by two sequential atom transfer radical polymerizations, and evaluated by measuring their T 1 relaxivity in vitro and imaging their T 1 contrast in tissue using MRI. Results: Solution and MRI studies demonstrated that these Gd-NPs exhibit remarkably high T 1 relaxivity on both per particle and per gadolinium ion basis, and can generate a much better MRI contrast compared with gadolinium chelates alone. Conclusion: These novel Gd-NPs may have important applications in magnetic resonance-based medical imaging.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 211-218 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Nanomedicine |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2012 |
Keywords
- MRI contrast agent
- T relaxivity
- atom transfer radical polymerizations
- gadolinium
- nanoparticles
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Bioengineering
- Development
- Biomedical Engineering
- General Materials Science
- Medicine (miscellaneous)