A sub-50-nm monosized superparamagnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 T2-weighted MRI contrast agent: highly reproducible synthesis of uniform single-loaded core-shell nanostructures.
Oleic acid stabilized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) were selected as the cores for fabrication of sub-50-nm monodisperse single-loaded SPION@SiO2 core-shell nanostructures. Parameters that influence the formation of SPION@SiO2 in the water-in-oil reverse microemulsion system have been systematically investigated. The sufficiently high concentration of well-dispersed SPION, together with an appropriately low injection rate of tetraethoxysilane, were found to be the keys to efficiently prevent the homogeneous nucleation of silica and obtain a high-quality single-loaded core-shell nanocomposite. A more detailed mechanism for incorporating oleic acid capped inorganic functional nanoparticles into silica is proposed on the basis of previous reports and our new experimental results. Finally, the as-synthesized SPION@SiO2 nanospheres are exploited as an MRI-enhanced contrast agent, and their contrast effect in solution is tested by using a clinical MRI instrument.
Chen
Feng
F
State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructures, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050 (P.R. China), Fax:(+86) 21-52413122.
Bu
Wenbo
W
State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructures, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050 (P.R. China), Fax:(+86) 21-52413122.
Chen
Yu
Y
State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructures, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050 (P.R. China), Fax:(+86) 21-52413122.
Fan
Yuchi
Y
State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructures, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050 (P.R. China), Fax:(+86) 21-52413122.
He
Qianjun
Q
State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructures, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050 (P.R. China), Fax:(+86) 21-52413122.
Zhu
Min
M
State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructures, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050 (P.R. China), Fax:(+86) 21-52413122.
Liu
Xiaohang
X
Department of Radiology, Shanghai Cancer Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032 (P.R. China).
Zhou
Liangping
L
Department of Radiology, Shanghai Cancer Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032 (P.R. China).
Zhang
Shengjian
S
Department of Radiology, Shanghai Cancer Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032 (P.R. China).
Peng
Weijun
W
Department of Radiology, Shanghai Cancer Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032 (P.R. China).
Shi
Jianlin
J
State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructures, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050 (P.R. China), Fax:(+86) 21-52413122.
D000327:Adsorption; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D003911:Dextrans; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008280:Magnetics; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry
D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; C000499:ferric oxide; D019301:Oleic Acid; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; C065507:ferumoxides; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide