A novel platform for the development of highly efficient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents has been demonstrated. New contrast agents are designed and produced through electrostatic self-assembly of cationic gadolinium(III) complexes onto anionic spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (SPB). The structurally well-defined SPB are composed of polystyrene core and polyacrylic acid brush layer, where numerous binding sites and confined microenvironments are available for the embedment of the gadolinium(III) contrast agents. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments show excellent bio-compatibility and relaxometric performance of these SPB-based gadolinium hybrid materials. The enhanced relaxivity value is up to 86.2 mM(-1) s(-1) per Gd, a remarkably high record value at 1.5 T magnetic field. In vivo imaging displays a prolonged blood circulation time and massive accumulation of the contrast agents at the tumor region due to the enhanced permeability and retention effect. The SPB-based gadolinium hybrid materials not only broaden the horizons of new MRI contrast agents, but also have a great potential for tumor diagnosis.
[1]East China Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Mat Sci & Engn, Shanghai Key Lab Adv Polymer Mat, Shanghai 200237, Peoples R China.
[2]East China Univ Sci & Technol, State Key Lab Chem Engn, Shanghai 200237, Peoples R China.
[3]East China Univ Sci & Technol, State Key Lab Bioreactor Engn, Shanghai 200237, Peoples R China.
[4]Fudan Univ, Huashan Hosp, Dept Radiol, Shanghai 200040, Peoples R China.
(8.0+极速模式)