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Design and Control of Nanoconfinement to Achieve Magnetic Resonance Contrast Agents with High Relaxivity
Author(s) -
Malzahn Kerstin,
Ebert Sandro,
Schlegel Isabel,
Neudert Oliver,
Wagner Manfred,
Schütz Gunnar,
Ide Andreas,
Roohi Farnoosh,
Münnemann Kerstin,
Crespy Daniel,
Landfester Katharina
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.201500748
Subject(s) - magnetic resonance imaging , gadolinium , materials science , relaxation (psychology) , contrast (vision) , mri contrast agent , nanotechnology , aqueous solution , polymer , nuclear magnetic resonance , nanoparticle , chemistry , computer science , organic chemistry , radiology , medicine , psychology , social psychology , physics , artificial intelligence , metallurgy , composite material
The enhanced relaxation of hydrogen atoms of surrounding water from suitable contrast agent promotes magnetic resonance imaging as one of the most important medical diagnosis technique. The key challenge for the preparation of performant contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging with high relaxivity is to ensure a high local concentration of contrast agent while allowing a contact between water and the contrast agent. Both requirements are answered by tailoring a semipermeable confinement for a gadolinium complex used as contrast agent. A locally high concentration is achieved by successfully encapsulating the complex in polymer nanocontainers that serves to protect and retain the complex inside a limited space. The access of water to the complex is achieved by carefully controlling the chemistry of the shell and the core of the nanocontainers. The confinement of the nanocontainers enables an increased relaxivity compared to an aqueous solution of the contrast agent. The nanocontainers are successfully applied in vivo to yield enhanced contrast in magnetic resonance imaging.