T1–T2 Dual-modal MRI contrast agents based on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with surface attached gadolinium complexes

Dual-mode MRI contrast agents consisting of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) cores and gadolinium ions associated with the ionic chitosan protecting layer were synthesized and studied. Gadolinium ions were introduced into the coating layer via direct complex formation on the nanoparticles surface, covalent attachment or electrostatically driven deposition of the preformed Gd complex. The modified SPIONs having hydrodynamic diameters ca. 100 nm form stable, well-defined dispersions in water and have excellent magnetic properties. Physiochemical properties of those new materials were characterized using e.g., FTIR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray fluorescence, TEM, and vibrating sample magnetometry. They behave as superparamagnetics and shorten both T₁ and T₂ proton relaxation times, thus influencing both r₁ and r₂ relaxivity values that reach 53.7 and 375.5 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively, at 15 MHz. The obtained materials can be considered as highly effective contrast agents for low-field MRI, particularly useful at permanent magnet-based scanners.