Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive imaging method that offers high-resolution, high quality in vivo visualization for medical diagnostics. Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) containing Mn2+ offer an attractive alternative to Gd-based molecular contrast agents for T1 MRI. In this work, we show that highly anisotropic MnO NPs can be generated from a single precursor using simple synthetic protocols. These anisotropic morphologies offer better contrast augmentation when compared to spherical MnO NPs of similar sizes.
Highlights
As magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) continues to be a leading non-invasive diagnostic protocol in medicine, the importance of contrast agents (CAs) - magnetic species administered to the patient prior to MRI for augmented imaging - can not be stressed enough
As part of our ongoing examination of simple first-row transition metal oxide NPs for use as high-field MRI CAs,8,18,19 in this study we present the synthesis of a variety of MnO NP morphology and their MRI capabilities at B0 = 9.4 T
This study focuses on a simple synthetic route to obtain a variety of MnO nanostructures, ranging from spheres to convoluted shapes, with a view to using these shapedtuned NPs as T1-MRI CAs at high field (9.4 T)
Summary
As magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) continues to be a leading non-invasive diagnostic protocol in medicine, the importance of contrast agents (CAs) - magnetic species administered to the patient prior to MRI for augmented imaging - can not be stressed enough.1 Among these, T1-MRI CAs, which preferentially shorten the longitudinal relaxation times (T1) of water protons in their close proximity, leading to brighter signals, are preferred by radiologists for easier diagnosis of abnormal anatomical features.2 Irrespective of the relaxation mechanism, the figure of merit for such a CA is its relaxivity ri (in units of mM−1 s−1). Various MnO nanomorphologies were examined recently as potential T1-MRI CAs, correlating their r1 with surface-to-volume ratio, Mn2+ surface density, and geometrical confinement determined by specific morphology.16 It was determined that MnO nanostructures with greater surface-to-volume ratios and more exposed metal-rich crystal facets, i.e., with a greater surface concentration of Mn2+ ions, manifest stronger enhancement of T1-relaxation times of protons in their vicinity.
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