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Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique based on a phenomenon of nuclear physics discovered in the 1930s, in which matter exposed to magnetic fields and radio waves was found to emit radio signals. In 1970, a physician and researcher named Raymond Damadian noticed that malignant (cancerous) tissue gave off different signals than normal body tissue. He applied for a patent for the first MRI scanning device in clinical use by the early 1980s. The early MRI...

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Updated: Sep 21, 2025

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

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Published on: August 2, 2012

Self-Assembled, Biodegradable Magnetic Resonance Imaging Agents: Organic Radical-Functionalized Diblock Copolymers.

Julian M W Chan¹, Rudy J Wojtecki¹, Haritz Sardon²

¹IBM Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose, California 95120, United States.

ACS Macro Letters

|May 28, 2022

Summary

Researchers developed biodegradable nanoparticles using polymers with persistent organic radicals. These nanoparticles act as metal-free MRI contrast agents and can deliver anticancer drugs, showing promise as theranostic agents for cancer treatment.

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Last Updated: Sep 21, 2025

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Published on: August 6, 2019

Area of Science:

Polymer chemistry
Nanotechnology
Biomedical engineering

Background:

Biodegradable polymers offer sustainable solutions in nanomedicine.
Persistent organic radicals can be functionalized onto polymers for imaging applications.
The enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect facilitates tumor targeting.

Purpose of the Study:

To synthesize and evaluate novel biodegradable amphiphilic diblock copolymers functionalized with persistent organic radicals.
To assess the potential of these radical-functionalized polymers as metal-free MRI contrast agents.
To investigate the theranostic capabilities of these nanoparticles for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

Design and synthesis of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-polycarbonate diblock copolymers with pendant persistent organic radicals.
Self-assembly of copolymers into micellar nanoparticles in aqueous media.
Evaluation of nanoparticle accumulation in tumor tissue via the EPR effect.
T1 relaxation NMR and MRI studies in mice to assess contrast agent efficacy.
Demonstration of drug loading and therapeutic delivery capabilities.

Main Results:

Successfully synthesized biodegradable amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing persistent organic radicals.
Paramagnetic radical-functionalized polymers self-assembled into micellar nanoparticles.
Nanoparticles showed preferential accumulation in tumor tissue.
Demonstrated effectiveness as metal-free, biodegradable MRI contrast agents.
Confirmed drug-loading capacity and potential for therapeutic delivery.

Conclusions:

Biodegradable radical-functionalized polymers form effective MRI contrast agents.
These nanomaterials exhibit theranostic potential for cancer treatment.
The developed nanoparticles represent a promising metal-free alternative for cancer imaging and therapy.