Multicore SPION Clustering within Poly(amino acid) Corrals for Enhanced MRI Contrast and Drug Release.

ABSTRACT: Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) clusters produce localized magnetic field inhomogeneities that enhance negative contrast in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is shown that high transverse relaxivity (r₂) can be obtained by clustering hydrophobic SPIONs with an average core diameter of ≈7 nm via self-assembly with amphiphilic polyethylene glycol-b-poly(L-Leucine) block copolymers, PEG_n-b-p(L-Leu)_m, where the PEG chains are terminated by methoxy (CH₃O-PEG_n) or hydroxyl groups (HO-PEG_n). Clusters ranging from 65 to 85 nm in diameter are formed by polymer coating and stabilization of hydrophobic SPION aggregates and yield high r₂ values ranging from 226 to 342 s^-1 mm Fe^-1 wit

SUBMITTER: Kabil MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12674095 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature