Biocompatible nanoparticles and gadolinium complexes for MRI applications

Performances of double-emulsion techniques (W/O/W and W/O/O) and ionotropic gelation process were compared to achieve encapsulation of gadolinium MRI contrast agents (GdCAs) into biocompatible polymeric nanopartides (NPs) with high Gd-loadings. The better approach proved to be ionotropic gelation with H[Gd(DOTA)] as GdCA. Relaxometry evaluation of H[Gd(DOTA)]subset of NPs efficiency demonstrated that incorporation of H[Gd(DOTA)] inside an hydrogel matrix highly improved H[Gd(DOTA)] relaxivity. Particle efficacy as MR contrast agents was further demonstrated on a 3 T clinical imager: a significant improvement of T-1- and T-2- MR signals was obtained at doses much lower than the currently used. (C) 2012 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.