Biocompatible nanoparticles of KGd(H₂O)₂[Fe(CN)₆]·H₂O with extremely high T₁-weighted relaxivity owing to two water molecules directly bound to the Gd(III) center

• Published in: Langmuir 2014-10, Vol.30 (40), p.12018-12026
• Main Authors: Perera, Vindya S, Yang, Liu D, Hao, Jihua, Chen, Guojun, Erokwu, Bernadette O, Flask, Chris A, Zavalij, Peter Y, Basilion, James P, Huang, Songping D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Contrast Media - chemistry; Coordination Complexes - chemistry; Crystallography, X-Ray; Ferrocyanides - chemistry; Gadolinium - chemistry; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Molecular Imaging - instrumentation; Molecular Imaging - methods; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanoparticles - ultrastructure; Phantoms, Imaging; Water - chemistry
• ISSN: 0743-7463; 1520-5827
• DOI: 10.1021/la501985p

A simple one-step method for preparing biocompatible nanoparticles of gadolinium ferrocyanide coordination polymer KGd(H2O)2[Fe(CN)6]·H2O is reported. The crystal structure of this coordination polymer is determined by X-ray powder diffraction using the bulk materials. The stability, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and MR phantom and cellular imaging studies suggest that this coordination-polymer structural platform offers a unique opportunity for developing the next generation of T1-weighted contrast agents with high relaxivity as cellular MR probes for biological receptors or markers. Such high-relaxivity MR probes may hold potential in the study of molecular events and may be used for in vivo MR imaging in biomedical research and clinical applications.