Tailoring a two-dimensional graphene oxide surface: dual T1 and T2 MRI contrast agent materials

Abstract

A generalized strategy for developing a hybrid two-dimensional nanostructured dual T₁–T₂ MRI contrast agent (CA), by co-loading graphene oxide with both Mn-doped Fe₃O₄ (T₂ agent) and MnO (T₁ agent) magnetic nanoparticles, is reported. Typical T₁/T₂ signal quenching, due to magnetic coupling, was not observed because of the fair T₁ CA separation distance from the T₂ CA on the graphene oxide. The resultant two-dimensional nanostructured MRI CA complements the existing dual T₁–T₂ MRI CA libraries.