Exploring precision polymers to fine-tune magnetic resonance imaging properties of iron oxide nanoparticles

Aaron M. King; Caroline Bray; Stephen C.L. Hall; Joseph C. Bear; Lara K. Bogart; Sebastien Perrier; Gemma Louise Davies

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2020.06.036

Exploring precision polymers to fine-tune magnetic resonance imaging properties of iron oxide nanoparticles

Aaron M. King, Caroline Bray, Stephen C.L. Hall, Joseph C. Bear, Lara K. Bogart, Sebastien Perrier, Gemma Louise Davies^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The use of bio-polymers as stabilising agents for iron oxide-based negative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents has become popular in recent years, however the wide polydispersity of biologically-derived and commercially available polymers limits the ability to produce truly tuneable and reproducible behaviour, a major challenge in this area. In this work, stable colloids of iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared utilising precision-engineered bio-polymer mimics, poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sodium sulfonate) (P(AMPS)) polymers, with controlled narrow polydispersity molecular weights, as templating stabilisers. In addition to producing magnetic colloids with excellent MRI contrast capabilities (r₂ values reaching 434.2 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 25 °C and 23 MHz, several times higher than similar commercial analogues), variable field relaxometry provided unexpected important insights into the dynamic environment of the hydrated materials, and hence their exceptional MRI behaviour. Thanks to the polymer's templating backbone and flexible conformation in aqueous suspension, nanocomposites appear to behave as “multi-core” clustered species, enhancing interparticle interactions whilst retaining water diffusion, boosting relaxation properties at low frequency. This clustering behaviour, evidenced by small-angle X-ray scattering, and strong relaxometric response, was fine-tuned using the well-defined molecular weight polymer species with precise iron to polymer ratios. By also showing negligible haemolytic activity, these nanocomposites exhibit considerable potential for MRI diagnostics.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	401-411
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
Volume	579
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2020.06.036
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge financial support from the EPSRC (EP/N509577/1, supporting AMK). Thanks to Stelar Srl for NMRD measurements, Steven Huband and the University of Warwick X-ray diffraction Research Technology Platform for SAXS measurements and Professor Quentin Pankhurst for access to TEM at the Royal Institution. This work benefited from the use of the SasView application, originally developed under NSF award DMR-0520547. SasView contains code developed with funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the SINE2020 project, grant agreement No 654000.

Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge financial support from the EPSRC ( EP/N509577/1 , supporting AMK). Thanks to Stelar Srl for NMRD measurements, Steven Huband and the University of Warwick X-ray diffraction Research Technology Platform for SAXS measurements and Professor Quentin Pankhurst for access to TEM at the Royal Institution. This work benefited from the use of the SasView application, originally developed under NSF award DMR-0520547. SasView contains code developed with funding from the European Union ’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the SINE2020 project, grant agreement No 654000 .

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020

Keywords

Biopolymer
Magnetic nanoparticles
MRI contrast agent
Templating

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Biomaterials
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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10.1016/j.jcis.2020.06.036

Cite this

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title = "Exploring precision polymers to fine-tune magnetic resonance imaging properties of iron oxide nanoparticles",

abstract = "The use of bio-polymers as stabilising agents for iron oxide-based negative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents has become popular in recent years, however the wide polydispersity of biologically-derived and commercially available polymers limits the ability to produce truly tuneable and reproducible behaviour, a major challenge in this area. In this work, stable colloids of iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared utilising precision-engineered bio-polymer mimics, poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sodium sulfonate) (P(AMPS)) polymers, with controlled narrow polydispersity molecular weights, as templating stabilisers. In addition to producing magnetic colloids with excellent MRI contrast capabilities (r2 values reaching 434.2 mM−1 s−1 at 25 °C and 23 MHz, several times higher than similar commercial analogues), variable field relaxometry provided unexpected important insights into the dynamic environment of the hydrated materials, and hence their exceptional MRI behaviour. Thanks to the polymer's templating backbone and flexible conformation in aqueous suspension, nanocomposites appear to behave as “multi-core” clustered species, enhancing interparticle interactions whilst retaining water diffusion, boosting relaxation properties at low frequency. This clustering behaviour, evidenced by small-angle X-ray scattering, and strong relaxometric response, was fine-tuned using the well-defined molecular weight polymer species with precise iron to polymer ratios. By also showing negligible haemolytic activity, these nanocomposites exhibit considerable potential for MRI diagnostics.",

keywords = "Biopolymer, Magnetic nanoparticles, MRI contrast agent, Templating",

author = "King, {Aaron M.} and Caroline Bray and Hall, {Stephen C.L.} and Bear, {Joseph C.} and Bogart, {Lara K.} and Sebastien Perrier and Davies, {Gemma Louise}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors acknowledge financial support from the EPSRC (EP/N509577/1, supporting AMK). Thanks to Stelar Srl for NMRD measurements, Steven Huband and the University of Warwick X-ray diffraction Research Technology Platform for SAXS measurements and Professor Quentin Pankhurst for access to TEM at the Royal Institution. This work benefited from the use of the SasView application, originally developed under NSF award DMR-0520547. SasView contains code developed with funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the SINE2020 project, grant agreement No 654000. Funding Information: The authors acknowledge financial support from the EPSRC ( EP/N509577/1 , supporting AMK). Thanks to Stelar Srl for NMRD measurements, Steven Huband and the University of Warwick X-ray diffraction Research Technology Platform for SAXS measurements and Professor Quentin Pankhurst for access to TEM at the Royal Institution. This work benefited from the use of the SasView application, originally developed under NSF award DMR-0520547. SasView contains code developed with funding from the European Union {\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the SINE2020 project, grant agreement No 654000 . Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020",

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AU - Perrier, Sebastien

AU - Davies, Gemma Louise

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N2 - The use of bio-polymers as stabilising agents for iron oxide-based negative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents has become popular in recent years, however the wide polydispersity of biologically-derived and commercially available polymers limits the ability to produce truly tuneable and reproducible behaviour, a major challenge in this area. In this work, stable colloids of iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared utilising precision-engineered bio-polymer mimics, poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sodium sulfonate) (P(AMPS)) polymers, with controlled narrow polydispersity molecular weights, as templating stabilisers. In addition to producing magnetic colloids with excellent MRI contrast capabilities (r2 values reaching 434.2 mM−1 s−1 at 25 °C and 23 MHz, several times higher than similar commercial analogues), variable field relaxometry provided unexpected important insights into the dynamic environment of the hydrated materials, and hence their exceptional MRI behaviour. Thanks to the polymer's templating backbone and flexible conformation in aqueous suspension, nanocomposites appear to behave as “multi-core” clustered species, enhancing interparticle interactions whilst retaining water diffusion, boosting relaxation properties at low frequency. This clustering behaviour, evidenced by small-angle X-ray scattering, and strong relaxometric response, was fine-tuned using the well-defined molecular weight polymer species with precise iron to polymer ratios. By also showing negligible haemolytic activity, these nanocomposites exhibit considerable potential for MRI diagnostics.

AB - The use of bio-polymers as stabilising agents for iron oxide-based negative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents has become popular in recent years, however the wide polydispersity of biologically-derived and commercially available polymers limits the ability to produce truly tuneable and reproducible behaviour, a major challenge in this area. In this work, stable colloids of iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared utilising precision-engineered bio-polymer mimics, poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sodium sulfonate) (P(AMPS)) polymers, with controlled narrow polydispersity molecular weights, as templating stabilisers. In addition to producing magnetic colloids with excellent MRI contrast capabilities (r2 values reaching 434.2 mM−1 s−1 at 25 °C and 23 MHz, several times higher than similar commercial analogues), variable field relaxometry provided unexpected important insights into the dynamic environment of the hydrated materials, and hence their exceptional MRI behaviour. Thanks to the polymer's templating backbone and flexible conformation in aqueous suspension, nanocomposites appear to behave as “multi-core” clustered species, enhancing interparticle interactions whilst retaining water diffusion, boosting relaxation properties at low frequency. This clustering behaviour, evidenced by small-angle X-ray scattering, and strong relaxometric response, was fine-tuned using the well-defined molecular weight polymer species with precise iron to polymer ratios. By also showing negligible haemolytic activity, these nanocomposites exhibit considerable potential for MRI diagnostics.

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Exploring precision polymers to fine-tune magnetic resonance imaging properties of iron oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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