A Dendritic Supramolecular Complex as Uniform Hybrid Micelle with Dual Structure for Bimodal In Vivo Imaging

In this study, a uniform complex dual micelle bearing a gadolinium-substituted polyoxometalate core, a hydrophobic middle, and a biocompatible organic shell, which exhibits a uniform size and definite molecular weight and chemical composition, is constructed through a simple two-step process for use as a fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent. A paramagnetic polyoxometalate cluster, K₁₃ [Gd(β₂ -SiW₁₁ O₃₉ )₂ ], is first encapsulated with a cationic 3-generation dendron (D-3) bearing triethylene glycol monomethyl ether terminal groups through ionic substitution. The formed electrostatic complex, (D-3)₁₃ [Gd(β₂ -SiW₁₁ O₃₉ )₂ ] (D-GdSiW), which displays an ambivalent micellar structure, is then demonstrated to act as a suitable carrier for the uptake of cationic fluorescent dyes, forming a loaded complex. The dye-loaded complex D-GdSiW-D is thus proven to display high relaxivity as a contrast agent, maintaining its structural stability under physiological conditions with low cell cytotoxicity. Confocal laser scanning microscopic observation also demonstrates the fluorescence imaging property of the prepared complex upon consumption by MCF-7 cells. Both in vivo fluorescence imaging and MRI further confirm that the complex micelle with dual micellar structure may be a suitable liver-specific contrast agent for clinical diagnosis.