<p>There is an increasing interest for nanomaterials in biomedical applications and in this work, nanoparticles of gadolinium oxide (Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) have been investigated as a novel contrast agent for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Relaxation properties have been studied in aqueous solutions as well as in cell culture medium and the nanoparticles have been explored as cell labeling agents. The fluorescent properties of the particles were used to visualize the internalization in cells and doped particles were also investigated as a multimodal agent that could work as a fluorescent marker for microscopy and as a contrast enhancer for MRI.</p><p>Results show that in aqueous solutions, there is a twofold increase in relaxivity for Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> compared to commercial agent Gd-DTPA. In cell culture medium as well as in cells, there is a clear T<sub>1</sub> effect and a distinct increase in signal intensity in T<sub>1</sub>-mapped images. Fluorescent studies show that the Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles doped with 5% terbium have interesting fluorescent properties and that these particles could work as a multimodal contrast agent.</p><p>This study shows that Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles possess excellent relaxation properties that are retained in more biological environments. Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> particles are suitable as a T<sub>1</sub> contrast agent, but seem also be adequate for T<sub>2</sub> enhancement in for instance cell labeling experiments.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA/oai:DiVA.org:liu-11041 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Klasson, Anna |
| Publisher | Linköping University, Linköping University, Radiology, Universitetsbibliotek |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Licentiate thesis, comprehensive summary, text |
| Relation | Linköping Studies in Health Sciences. Thesis, 1100-6013 ; 85 |
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