Abstract
Multimodal imaging nanoprobes by integrating different imaging functions into one nanoplatform can provide more comprehensive and accurate information for the detection of tumors at their early stage, which is crucial to decrease the mortality rate. In this report, highly monodisperse Dy doped NaGdF4 NPs with ultra-small size (2.51 nm and 8.62 nm) were synthesized through a one-step and versatile thermal decomposition method. Then a facile ligand exchange strategy was applied to replace the passivating oleate ligand with an amphiphilic polymer of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). These PVP-NPs not only showed an improved longitudinal relaxivity (r1 = 6.17 mM−1 s−1) and a higher transverse relaxivity (r2 = 13.82 mM−1 s−1), but also possessed strong X-ray attenuation properties (48.54 HU L g−1). MTT assay, histological analysis and body weight assessment illustrated that the multifunctional NPs were of relatively low toxicity. The influence of particle size on toxicity, biodistribution, elimination pathway and relaxivity was systematically explored. Furthermore, in vivo MR and CT imaging demonstrated that there was considerable signal enhancement in liver, spleen and tumor through intravenous injection. Therefore, it is envisioned that the PVP-NaGdF4:Dy NPs can serve as potential T1- and T2-weighted MR and CT imaging contrast agents.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 106355-106363 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | RSC Advances |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 108 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2016 |
Externally published | Yes |
Funding
Financial support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21003013), the Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Provincial Science and Technology Department (No. 201215126) and Jilin Provincial Education Department (No. 2016323).