Ultrathin Iron Oxide Nanowhiskers as Positive Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
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| Authors: | Thomas Macher John Totenhagen Jennifer Sherwood Ying Qin Demet Gurler Mark S Bolding Yuping Bao |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Chemical and Biological Engineering, Alabama Innovation and Mentoring of Entrepreneurs, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA;2. Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA;3. Alabama Innovation and Mentoring of Entrepreneurs, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA |
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| Abstract: | In this paper, a highly innovative concept of using ultrathin iron oxide nanowhiskers as a positive (T1) contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is demonstrated. Iron oxide nanowhiskers with dimensions of approximately 2 nm × 20 nm are synthesized by heating an iron oleate/oleylamine complex under 150 °C. These nanostructures have very high surface‐to‐volume ratios, leading to strong paramagnetic signal, a property suitable for T1 contrast in MRI. The positive contrast enhancement of these nanowhiskers is demonstrated in vitro and in vivo in a rat model. Successful development of this technology has substantial commercial value in biomedical imaging, potentially leading to the advancement of human healthcare technologies. |
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| Keywords: | iron oxide nanowhiskers imaging contrast agents relaxivity surface‐to‐volume ratio |
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