Effect of Magnetite Nanoparticle Morphology on the Parameters of MRI Relaxivity

Abstract

Results are presented from synthesizing and characterizing magnetite nanoparticles with spherical, cubic and octahedral geometry. Magnetic properties (saturation magnetization, residual magnetization, and coercive force), cytotoxicity, and T₂ relaxivity are measured for the synthesized nanoparticles. They are characterized via X-ray diffraction and dynamic light scattering (hydrodynamic size and zeta potential). The effect the shape of the nanoparticles have on the values of T₂ relaxivity is analyzed. Nontoxic magnetite nanoparticles coated with copolymer are excellent contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and show better contrast properties than their commercial analogs (Rezovist, Ferumoxytol, Feridex).