Binary behaviour of an oxidation-responsive MRI nano contrast agent

A new nano contrast agent has been prepared incorporating a molecular magnet in oxidation-responsive nanoparticles; this system has shown a remarkable sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide (detection down to at least 40 mu M), which was used as a model reactive oxygen species. Surprisingly, the response had a binary (off/on) character, due to a non linear cascade relation between extent of oxidation and water permeability in the particles.