Paramagnetic self‐assembled nanoparticles as supramolecular MRI contrast agents |
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| Authors: | Pol Besenius Joeri L. M. Heynens Roel Straathof Marko M. L. Nieuwenhuizen Paul H. H. Bomans Enzo Terreno Silvio Aime Gustav J. Strijkers Klaas Nicolay E. W. Meijer |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Institute for Complex Molecular Systems and Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, , 5600?MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands;2. Biomedical NMR, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, , 5600?MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands;3. Laboratory of Materials and Interface Chemistry and Soft Matter Cryo‐TEM Research Unit, Eindhoven University of Technology, , 5600?MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands;4. Department of Chemistry, IFM and Molecular Imaging Center, University of Torino, , 10125 Torino, Italy |
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| Abstract: | Nanometer‐sized materials offer a wide range of applications in biomedical technologies, particularly imaging and diagnostics. Current scaffolds in the nanometer range predominantly make use of inorganic particles, organic polymers or natural peptide‐based macromolecules. In contrast we hereby report a supramolecular approach for the preparation of self‐assembled dendritic‐like nanoparticles for applications as MRI contrast agents. This strategy combines the benefits from low molecular weight imaging agents with the ones of high molecular weight. Their in vitro properties are confirmed by in vivo measurements: post injection of well‐defined and meta‐stable nanoparticles allows for high‐resolution blood‐pool imaging, even at very low Gd(III) doses. These dynamic and modular imaging agents are an important addition to the young field of supramolecular medicine using well‐defined nanometer‐sized assemblies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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| Keywords: | self‐assembly supramolecular oligomers bio‐nanotechnology functional materials imaging |
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