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Spherical Polyelectrolyte Brushes as a Novel Platform for Paramagnetic Relaxation Enhancement and Passive Tumor Targeting
Author(s) -
Zhu Qin,
Yuan Zhenyu,
Qian Weiqiao,
Li Yuanyuan,
Qiu Zhiqiang,
Tang Weijun,
Wang Jie,
Ding Yun,
Hu Aiguo
Publication year - 2017
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.201700071
Subject(s) - gadolinium , polyacrylic acid , materials science , polyelectrolyte , biocompatibility , in vivo , mri contrast agent , magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance , biophysics , nanotechnology , chemistry , biomedical engineering , polymer , medicine , physics , microbiology and biotechnology , radiology , metallurgy , composite material , biology
A novel platform for the development of highly efficient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents has been demonstrated. New contrast agents are designed and produced through electrostatic self‐assembly of cationic gadolinium(III) complexes onto anionic spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (SPB). The structurally well‐defined SPB are composed of polystyrene core and polyacrylic acid brush layer, where numerous binding sites and confined microenvironments are available for the embedment of the gadolinium(III) contrast agents. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments show excellent biocompatibility and relaxometric performance of these SPB‐based gadolinium hybrid materials. The enhanced relaxivity value is up to 86.2 mM −1 s −1 per Gd, a remarkably high record value at 1.5 T magnetic field. In vivo imaging displays a prolonged blood circulation time and massive accumulation of the contrast agents at the tumor region due to the enhanced permeability and retention effect. The SPB‐based gadolinium hybrid materials not only broaden the horizons of new MRI contrast agents, but also have a great potential for tumor diagnosis.