One-pot Synthesis of PEGylated Gd-based Nanoparticles as High-performance and Biocompatibility Contrast Agents for T 1 -Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging In vivo

Polyethylene glycol modified(PEGylated) NaGdF 4 (PEG-NaGdF 4 ) nanoparticles as a novel T 1 -weighted magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) contrast agent was successfully constructed by a one-pot hydrothermal synthesis method. Because of the functionalization of PEG, the nanoprobes had excellent dispersity, excellent stability and high biocompatibility. More importantly, the as-prepared PEG-NaGdF 4 nanoprobes revealed the high longitudinal relaxivity value and prominent T 1 -weighted MRI contrast performance, which was superior to the commercial MRI contrast agents. With the facile synthesis, excellent dispersity, outstanding stability, remarkable contrast performance and high biocompatibility, the PEGylated NaGdF 4 nanoparticles brought more opportunities to the new generation of nanoparticulate-based T 1 -weighted MRI contrast agents in clinic.