title: Gd-containing conjugated polymer nanoparticles: bimodal nanoparticles for fluorescence and MRI imaging.
abstract: Aqueous bifunctional semiconductor polymer nanoparticles (SPNs), approximately 30 nm in diameter (as measured from electron microscopy), were synthesised using hydrophobic conjugated polymers, amphiphilic phospholipids and a gadolinium-containing lipid. Their fluorescence quantum yields and extinction coefficients were determined, and their MRI T₁-weighted relaxation times in water were measured. The bimodal nanoparticles were readily taken up by HeLa and murine macrophage-like J774 cells as demonstrated by confocal laser scanning microscopy, and were found to be MRI-active, generating a linear relationship between T₁-weighted relaxation rates and gadolinium concentrations The synthesis is relatively simple, and can easily result in milligrams of materials, although we fully expect scale-up to the gram level to be easily realised.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, King's College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, UK. mark.a.green@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Zeina
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Pei Hua
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suhling
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Protti
authors.forename: Alkystis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Phinikaridou
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Botnar
authors.forename: Raha Ahmad
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Khanbeigi
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thanou
authors.forename: Lea Ann
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Dailey
authors.forename: Nicola J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Commander
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jenner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011859:Radiography; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D011108:Polymers; D005682:Gadolinium