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Dextran‐Coated Antiferromagnetic MnO Nanoparticles for a T 1 ‐MRI Contrast Agent with High Colloidal Stability
Author(s) -
Neves Herbert R.,
Bini Rafael A.,
Barbosa Jeam H. O.,
Salmon Carlos E. G.,
Varanda Laudemir C.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
particle and particle systems characterization
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.877
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1521-4117
pISSN - 0934-0866
DOI - 10.1002/ppsc.201500251
Subject(s) - dispersity , nanoparticle , dextran , colloid , zeta potential , materials science , magnetic nanoparticles , chemical engineering , antiferromagnetism , nuclear magnetic resonance , nanotechnology , chemistry , chromatography , polymer chemistry , physics , condensed matter physics , engineering
A simple approach to synthesize carboxymethyl dextran‐coated MnO nanoparticles (CMDex‐MnONPs) with high colloidal stability in physiological saline solutions is described here for potential applications as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T 1 contrast agent. The thermal decomposition methodology is used to produce uniform MnONPs with an average size of around 20 nm, and its hydrophobic surface is modified with CMDex molecules, conferring hydrophilic properties. After CMDex coating, the nanoparticle presents high colloidal stability in concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 μg mL −1 , average hydrodynamic size ( Z ‐average) of 130 nm, polydispersity degree of ≈12%, and negative surface charge in both simulated body fluid solutions and pure water with zeta‐potential of –20 and –40 mV, respectively. The CMDex‐MnONPs with 20 nm show antiferromagnetic behavior at room temperature, and the magnetic properties are found to be strongly dependent of the nanoparticle size, increasing the contribution of the ferromagnetic Mn 3 O 4 phase with decreasing size for nanoparticles about 3 nm. Cytotoxicity evaluation in cancerous and noncancerous cells in the range of 5.0–50.0 μg mL −1 shows low toxicity for cancerous cells and lack of the same for healthy cells lines. Related to the magnetic properties, CMDex‐MnONP presents significant r 1 relaxivity and low r 2 / r 1 relaxivity ratio. The results suggest that these nanoparticles display characteristics for potential applications as an MRI T 1 contrast agent.