title: "Two-in-one" fabrication of Fe3O4/MePEG-PLA composite nanocapsules as a potential ultrasonic/MRI dual contrast agent.
abstract: A new method for the fabrication of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles enveloped by polymeric nanocapsules is proposed. This method is characterized by combining a double emulsification with the interfacial coprecipitation of iron salts to form Fe(3)O(4)/polymer composite nanocapsules in a single step. To demonstrate the viability of this approach, methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactide) (MePLEG) was chosen as the shell material for Fe(3)O(4)/MePLEG nanocapsules. In addition to the versatility offered for fabricating nanocapsules with different shell materials, the method was found to be convenient for adjusting the magnetite content of the nanocapsules from 0 to 43%. In addition to their confirmed T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enhancement, the resultant composite nanocapsules display much more obvious acoustic responses than MePLEG nanocapsules in an acoustic investigation. Furthermore, the low toxicity of these composite nanocapsules, as confirmed by our study, combined with their magnetic and acoustic properties ensure that these composite nanocapsules have great potential in acting as ultrasonic/MRI dual contrast agents.
authors.affiliation: The State Key Lab of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, PR China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hongjing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Weibin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xiasheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jiyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011091:Polyesters; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C033616:poly(lactide)