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High proton relaxivity for gadolinium oxide nanoparticles

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Abstract

Objective: Nanosized materials of gadolinium oxide can provide high-contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The objective of the present study was to investigate proton relaxation enhancement by ultrasmall (5 to 10 nm) Gd2O3 nanocrystals.

Materials and methods: Gd2O3 nanocrystals were synthesized by a colloidal method and capped with diethylene glycol (DEG). The oxidation state of Gd2O3 was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Proton relaxation times were measured with a 1.5-T MRI scanner. The measurements were performed in aqueous solutions and cell culture medium (RPMI).

Results: Results showed a considerable relaxivity increase for the Gd2O3–DEG particles compared to Gd-DTPA. Both T 1 and T 2 relaxivities in the presence of Gd2O3–DEG particles were approximately twice the corresponding values for Gd–DTPA in aqueous solution and even larger in RPMI. Higher signal intensity at low concentrations was predicted for the nanoparticle solutions, using experimental data to simulate a T1-weighted spin echo sequence.

Conclusion: The study indicates the possibility of obtaining at least doubled relaxivity compared to Gd–DTPA using Gd2O3–DEG nanocrystals as contrast agent. The high T 1 relaxation rate at low concentrations of Gd2O3 nanoparticles is very promising for future studies of contrast agents based on gadolinium-containing nanocrystals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CMIV, Linköping University, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden

    Maria Engström & Anna Klasson

  2. Department of Radiology, Linköping University, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden

    Maria Engström & Anna Klasson

  3. Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden

    Henrik Pedersen & Per-Olov Käll

  4. Department of Physics and Measurement Technology/Applied Physics, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden

    Cecilia Vahlberg & Kajsa Uvdal

Authors
  1. Maria Engström
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  2. Anna Klasson
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  3. Henrik Pedersen
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  4. Cecilia Vahlberg
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  5. Per-Olov Käll
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  6. Kajsa Uvdal
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Correspondence to Maria Engström.

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Engström, M., Klasson, A., Pedersen, H. et al. High proton relaxivity for gadolinium oxide nanoparticles. Magn Reson Mater Phy 19, 180–186 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-006-0039-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-006-0039-x

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