In Vivo Positive Magnetic Resonance Imaging Applications of Poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid)-coated Ultra-small Paramagnetic Gadolinium Oxide Nanoparticles

Molecules. 2020 Mar 5;25(5):1159. doi: 10.3390/molecules25051159.

Abstract

The study of ultra-small paramagnetic gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) as in vivo positive (T1) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents is one of the most attractive fields in nanomedicine. The performance of the Gd2O3 NP imaging agents depends on the surface-coating materials. In this study, poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) (PMVEMA) was used as a surface-coating polymer. The PMVEMA-coated paramagnetic ultra-small Gd2O3 NPs with an average particle diameter of 1.9 nm were synthesized using the one-pot polyol method. They exhibited excellent colloidal stability in water and good biocompatibility. They also showed a very high longitudinal water proton spin relaxivity (r1) value of 36.2 s-1mM-1 (r2/r1 = 2.0; r2 = transverse water proton spin relaxivity) under a 3.0 tesla MR field which is approximately 10 times higher than the r1 values of commercial molecular contrast agents. High positive contrast enhancements were observed in in vivo T1 MR images after intravenous administration of the NP solution sample, demonstrating its potential as a T1 MRI contrast agent.

Keywords: T1 magnetic resonance imaging; contrast agent; paramagnetic; poly (methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid); ultra-small Gd2O3 nanoparticle.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible* / chemistry
  • Contrast Media
  • Gadolinium* / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / methods
  • Maleic Anhydrides* / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / ultrastructure
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Particle Size
  • Polyvinyls* / chemistry
  • Signal-To-Noise Ratio
  • Spectrum Analysis

Substances

  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible
  • Contrast Media
  • Maleic Anhydrides
  • Polyvinyls
  • poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid)
  • gadolinium oxide
  • Gadolinium