Block copolymer-based gadolinium nanoparticles as MRI contrast agents with high T1 relaxivity

To synthesize block copolymer-based gadolinium nanoparticles (Gd-NPs) and evaluate their potential as a new MRI contrast agent.

The Gd-NPs were developed through coordination of gadolinium chelates into a pentablock copolymer synthesized by two sequential atom transfer radical polymerizations, and evaluated by measuring their T1 relaxivity in vitro and imaging their T1 contrast in tissue using MRI.

Solution and MRI studies demonstrated that these Gd-NPs exhibit remarkably high T1 relaxivity on both per particle and per gadolinium ion basis, and can generate a much better MRI contrast compared with gadolinium chelates alone.

These novel Gd-NPs may have important applications in magnetic resonance-based medical imaging.