Water‐Soluble Ultra‐Small Manganese Oxide Surface Doped Gadolinium Oxide (Gd₂O₃@MnO) Nanoparticles for MRI Contrast Agent

Abstract

Abstract We have developed ultra‐small gadolinium oxide (Gd 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, which are surface‐doped with manganese oxide (MnO) (abbreviated as Gd 2 O 3 @MnO). The surface‐doped nanoparticles ranged from 1 to 2 nm in diameter. They were further coated with hydrophilic biocompatible lactobionic acid. In‐vitro tests of the sample solution indicated clear dose‐dependent contrast enhancements in both T 1 and T 2 map images, showing that the nanoparticles may be used as both T 1 and T 2 MRI contrast agents. Their performance as a T 1 MRI contrast agent was proved in vivo through T 1 MR images of a mouse.