Self-Folding Macromolecular Drug Carrier for Cancer Imaging and Therapy.

ABSTRACT: Nano-sized contrast agents (NCAs) hold potential for highly specific tumor contrast enhancement during magnetic resonance imaging. Given the quantity of contrast agents loaded into a single nano-carrier and the anticipated relaxation effects, the current molecular design approaches its limits. In this study, a novel molecular mechanism to augment the relaxation of NCAs is introduced and demonstrated. NCA formation is driven by the intramolecular self-folding of a single polymer chain that possesses systematically arranged hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments in water. Utilizing this self-folding molecular design, the relaxivity value can be elevated with minimal loading of gadolinium complexes, enabling sharp tumor imaging. Furthermore, the study reveals that this NCA can selectively accum

SUBMITTER: Gao S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10870020 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature