Magnetic/Silica Nanocomposites as Dual‐Mode Contrast Agents for Combined Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasonography

Abstract

Abstract A simple and efficient method for synthesizing a range of hybrid nanocomposites based on a core of silica nanospheres (160, 330, and 660 nm in diameter) covered by an outer shell of superparamagnetic nanoparticles, either iron oxide or heterodimeric FePt‐iron oxide nanocrystals, is presented. The magnetic and ultrasound characterization of the resulting nanocomposites shows that they have great potential as contrast agents for dual‐mode imaging purposes, combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US).