Preparation for highly sensitive MRI contrast agents using core/shell type nanoparticles consisting of multiple SPIO cores with thin silica coating.
We describe here the facile and robust preparation methods for the multiple-SPIO-containing silica-coated core/shell type nanoparticles which can serve as a highly sensitive MRI contrast agent. The imidazolium-tethered core/shell type particles were synthesized, and the centrifugal selection for the multiple-SPIO-containing particles and the etching process to fabricate thin silica layers were carried out to improve the proton relaxivity of water tissue. We found that the synthetic particles can provide approximately 7-fold clearer contrasts than that of the particles before treatments. In addition, the particles can show good dispersibility at least for 1 week in aqueous media.
Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
Kazuo
K
Tanaka
Asako
A
Narita
Narufumi
N
Kitamura
Wataru
W
Uchiyama
Masahito
M
Morita
Toshiro
T
Inubushi
Yoshiki
Y
Chujo
D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008280:Magnetics; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*
D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide; D012822:Silicon Dioxide