A novel synthetic route for high-index faceted iron oxide concave nanocubes with high T₂ relaxivity for in vivo MRI applications.

ABSTRACT: Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) with high-index facets have shown great potential as high performance T₂ contrast agents for MRI. Previous synthetic approaches focused mainly on ion-directed or oxidative etching methods. Herein, we report a new synthetic route for preparing high-index faceted iron oxide concave nanocubes using a bulky coordinating solvent. Through the systematic replacement of a non-coordinating solvent, 1-octadecene, with trioctylamine, the solvent interaction with the nanoparticle surface is modified, thereby, promoting the growth evolution of the IONPs from spherical to concave cubic morphology. The presence of the bulky trioctylamine solvent results in particle size increase and the formation of nanoparticles with enhanced shape anisotropy. A well-defined c

SUBMITTER: Situ-Loewenstein SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6599512 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature