Nanoparticles of gadolinium-incorporated Prussian blue with PEG coating as an effective oral MRI contrast agent for gastrointestinal tract imaging

Abstract

Biocompatible nanoparticles of gadolinium-incorporated Prussian blue with the empirical formula K_0.94Gd_0.02Fe[Fe(CN)₆] exhibit extremely high stability against the release of Gd³⁺ and CN⁻ ions under the acidic conditions similar to stomach juice. The high r₁ relaxivity, low cytotoxicity and the ability of such nanoparticles to penetrate the cell membrane suggest that this coordination-polymer structural platform offers a unique opportunity for developing the next generation of T₁-weighted oral cellular MRI probes for the early detection of tumors in the gastrointestinal tract.