Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated by natural rubber latex as MRI contrast agent

Abstract

Abstract Early detection is prerequisite for a successful cancer treatment. Recent advances in nanoscience and imaging technology allow the application of nanomaterials for early cancer diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become one of the most extensively used and powerful tool for noninvasive clinical diagnosis. This work reports the synthesis and characterization of iron oxide nanoparticles coated with natural rubber latex (NRL), as well as their incorporation in a gelatin matrix to be used as an MRI contrast agent. Nanoparticles physical properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electronic microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), magnetometry and MRI. XRD profiles indicated that magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4) with spinel structure were formed. TEM images showed the formation of iron oxide nanoparticles with average size about 9–14 nm, depending on the NRL concentration. Magnetization curves demonstrated iron oxide nanoparticles having superparamagnetic characteristics with increased magnetization as a function of NRL concentration. The zero-field cooling (ZFC) and field cooling (FC) curves show decreased blocking temperature upon coating magnetic nanoparticles with NRL. MRI results showed proton nuclear relaxivity ratios (r2/r1) of prepared MNPs significantly decreased by increasing the amount of NRL in the synthesis. Therefore, it can be concluded that NRL coated MNPs can be considered as an effective contrast agent for MRI applications.