RESUMO
Nanosized materials of gadolinium oxide can provide high-contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this research was to characterize a novel emulsion composed of a silicon-based nanocomposite polymer (NCP) and gadolinium (III) oxide (Gd2O3) nanoparticles. The size and morphological structure of this nanoparticle are determined by particle size analysis device (zeta sizer) and transmission electronic microscope. We determined composition of Gd2O3 nanoparticles with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) and magnetic resonance signal by T1-weighted MRI. Cytotoxicity of Gd2O3 nanoparticles in SK-MEL-3 cancer cells was evaluated. Zeta sizer showed Gd2O3 nanoparticles to be 75 nm in size. EDXA indicated the two main chemical components of gadolinium-nanocomposite polymer emulsion: gadolinium and silicon and MRI also showed a significantly higher incremental relaxivity for Gd2O3 nanoparticles compared to Magnevist (conventional contrast agent). In such concentrations, the slope of R1 relaxivity (1/T1) vs. concentration curve of Magnevist and Gd2O3 were 4.33, 7.98 s⻹ mM⻹. The slope of R2 relaxivity (1/T2) vs. concentration curve of Magnevist and Gd2O3 were 5.06, 13.75 s⻹ mM⻹. No appreciable toxicity was observed with Gd2O3 nanoparticles. Gadolinium-nanocomposite polymer emulsion is well characterized and has potential as a useful contrast agent for magnetic resonance molecular imaging.