Octapod iron oxide nanoparticles as high performance T₂ contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging

摘要

Disclosed are nanoparticles comprising octapod iron oxide having eight trigonal bipyramidal arms and a method of preparing the same. The nanoparticles are prepared by heating a mixture of a ferric carboxylate, a carboxylic acid, a chloride salt, water, and a non-polar solvent, to a temperature above about 300° C. Also disclosed is a method of magnetic resonance imaging a tissue in a mammal, comprising use of the aforesaid nanoparticles.