| 초록 |
We report herein a bio-inspired synthesis of gadolinium-labeled magnetite nanoparticles and their utility as dual contrast agents for T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A mussel-derived adhesive moiety, 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (DOPA), was utilized as a robust anchor to form a mixed layer of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains and dopamine molecules on the surface of iron oxide nanoparticles. Gadolinium ions were subsequently complexed at the distal end of the dopamine molecules that were pre-functionalized with a chelating ligand for gadolinium. The resultant nanoparticles exhibited high dispersion stability in aqueous solution. Crystal structure and superparamagnetic properties of magnetite nanocrystals were also maintained after the complexation of gadolinium. We performed in vitro and in vivo MRI, and relaxivity measurements to demonstrate their dual contrast ability. |
