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Updated: May 3, 2026

Synthesis of Stimuli-responsive Nanogels using Aqueous One-step Crosslinking and Co-nanopolymerization
Published on: January 24, 2025
Metal Chelating Crosslinkers Form Nanogels with High Chelation Stability
Jacques Lux1, Minnie Chan1, Luce Vander Elst2
1Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. KACST-UCSD Center of Excellence in Nanomedicine. Laboratory of Bioresponsive Materials, University of California, San Diego. 9500 Gilman Dr., 0600, PSB 2270, La Jolla, CA-92093-0600, United States.
Abstract:
We present a series of hydrogel nanoparticles (nanogels) incorporating either acyclic or cyclic metal chelates as crosslinkers. These crosslinkers are used to formulate polyacrylamide-based nanogels (diameter 50 to 85 nm) yielding contrast agents with enhanced relaxivities (up to 6-fold greater than Dotarem®), because this nanogel structure slows the chelator's tumbling frequency and allows fast water exchange. Importantly, these nanogels also stabilize Gd3+ within the chelator thermodynamically and kinetically against metal displacement through transmetallation, which should reduce toxicity associated with release of free Gd3+. This chelation stability suggests that the chelate crosslinker strategy may prove useful for other applications of metal-chelating nanoparticles in medicine, including other imaging modalities and radiotherapy.
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