title: Ultra-fast method to synthesize mesoporous magnetite nanoclusters as highly sensitive magnetic resonance probe.
abstract: An ultra-fast method to synthesize mesoporous magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) nanoclusters is reported. These mesoporous magnetite can be used as a highly sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probe. The nanoclusters were synthesized by reducing iron (III) acetylacetonate with hydrazine in ethylene glycol under microwave irradiation and only 5 min was needed in the synthesis. The diameter of the nanoclusters could be controlled effectively between 75 nm and 115 nm by increasing the amount of iron (III) acetylacetonate. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) results reveal a mesoporous structure and a large surface area of 72.3 m(2) g(-1). Cytotoxicity test performed in HepG2 cell line indicated that the as-prepared nanoclusters were non-cytotoxic. The nanoclusters exhibited an enhanced T(2) relaxivity value of 417.4±29.9 s(-1) mM(-1). In vitro and in vivo MRI confirmed the high sensitivity of the magnetite nanoclusters as MRI probe. The biodistribution of the nanoclusters in rat liver and spleen after intravenous injection was also investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Juncai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Jimmy C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xiao-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: King Ming
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Yi-Xiang J
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013154:Spleen / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D015335:Molecular Probes