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Exploring precision polymers to fine-tune magnetic resonance imaging properties of iron oxide nanoparticles

King, AM; Bray, C; Hall, SCL; Bear, JC; Bogart, LK; Perrier, S; Davies, G-L; (2020) Exploring precision polymers to fine-tune magnetic resonance imaging properties of iron oxide nanoparticles. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science , 579 pp. 401-411. 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.06.036. Green open access

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Abstract

The use of bio-polymers as stabilising agents for iron oxide-based negative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents has become popular in recent years, however the wide polydispersity of biologically-derived and commercially available polymers limits the ability to produce truly tuneable and reproducible behaviour, a major challenge in this area. In this work, stable colloids of iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared utilising precision-engineered bio-polymer mimics, poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sodium sulfonate) (P(AMPS)) polymers, with controlled narrow polydispersity molecular weights, as templating stabilisers. In addition to producing magnetic colloids with excellent MRI contrast capabilities (r2 values reaching 434.2 mM−1 s−1 at 25 °C and 23 MHz, several times higher than similar commercial analogues), variable field relaxometry provided unexpected important insights into the dynamic environment of the hydrated materials, and hence their exceptional MRI behaviour. Thanks to the polymer’s templating backbone and flexible conformation in aqueous suspension, nanocomposites appear to behave as “multi-core” clustered species, enhancing interparticle interactions whilst retaining water diffusion, boosting relaxation properties at low frequency. This clustering behaviour, evidenced by small-angle X-ray scattering, and strong relaxometric response, was fine-tuned using the well-defined molecular weight polymer species with precise iron to polymer ratios. By also showing negligible haemolytic activity, these nanocomposites exhibit considerable potential for MRI diagnostics.

Type: Article
Title: Exploring precision polymers to fine-tune magnetic resonance imaging properties of iron oxide nanoparticles
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.06.036
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2020.06.036
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Magnetic nanoparticles; MRI contrast agent; Templating; Biopolymer
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Chemistry
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10102976
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