Issue 29, 2024

A polymeric 1H/19F dual-modal MRI contrast agent with a snowman-like Janus nanostructure

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as a pivotal tool in contemporary medical diagnostics, offering non-invasive and high-resolution visualization of internal structures. Contrast agents are essential for enhancing MRI resolution, accurate lesion detection, and early pathology identification. While gadolinium-based contrast agents are widely used in clinics, safety concerns have prompted exploration of metal-free alternatives, including fluorine and nitroxide radical-based MRI contrast agents. Fluorine-containing compounds exhibit excellent MRI capabilities, with 19F MRI providing enhanced resolution and quantitative assessment. Nitroxide radicals, such as PROXYL and TEMPO, offer paramagnetic properties for MRI contrast. Despite their versatility, nitroxide radicals suffer from lower relaxivity values (r1) compared to gadolinium. Dual-modal imaging, combining 1H and 19F MRI, has gained prominence for its comprehensive insights into biological processes and disease states. However, existing dual-modal agents predominantly utilize gadolinium-organic ligands without incorporating nitroxide radicals. Here, we introduce a novel dual-modal MRI contrast agent (J-CA) featuring a Janus asymmetric nanostructure synthesized via seeded emulsion polymerization and post-modification. J-CA demonstrates excellent in vitro and in vivo performance in both 19F and 1H MRI, with a T2 relaxation time of 5 ms and an r1 value of 0.31 mM−1 s−1, ensuring dual-modal imaging capability. Moreover, J-CA exhibits superior biocompatibility and organ targeting, making it a promising candidate for precise lesion imaging and disease diagnosis. This work introduces a new avenue for metal-free dual-modal MRI, addressing safety concerns associated with traditional contrast agents.

Graphical abstract: A polymeric 1H/19F dual-modal MRI contrast agent with a snowman-like Janus nanostructure

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
29 4 2024
Accepted
27 6 2024
First published
01 7 2024

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024,12, 7090-7102

A polymeric 1H/19F dual-modal MRI contrast agent with a snowman-like Janus nanostructure

Z. Duan, J. Han, Y. Liu, X. Zhao, B. Wang, S. Cao and D. Wu, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024, 12, 7090 DOI: 10.1039/D4TB00923A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements