Maria Russo1,2, Alfonso Maria Ponsiglione1,2, Ernesto Forte3, Paolo Antonio Netti1,2,4, Enza Torino2,4. 1. Department of Chemical, Materials & Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Piazzale V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy. 2. Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare IIT@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Largo Barsanti e Matteucci 53, 80125 Naples, Italy. 3. IRCCS SDN, Via E. Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy. 4. Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biomaterials, University of Naples Federico II, Piazzale V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
Abstract
AIM: The efficacy of gadolinium (Gd) chelates as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging remains limited owing to poor relaxivity and toxic effects. Here, the effect of the hydration of the hydrogel structure on the relaxometric properties of Gd-DTPA is explained for the first time and called Hydrodenticity. RESULTS: The ability to tune the hydrogel structure is proved through a microfluidic flow-focusing approach able to produce crosslinked hyaluronic acid nanoparticles, analyzed regarding the crosslink density and mesh size, and connected to the characteristic correlation times of the Gd-DTPA. CONCLUSION: Hydrodenticity explains the boosting (12-times) of the Gd-DTPA relaxivity by tuning hydrogel structural parameters, potentially enabling the reduction of the administration dosage as approved for clinical use. [Formula: see text].
AIM: The efficacy of gadolinium (Gd) chelates as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging remains limited owing to poor relaxivity and toxic effects. Here, the effect of the hydration of the hydrogel structure on the relaxometric properties of Gd-DTPA is explained for the first time and called Hydrodenticity. RESULTS: The ability to tune the hydrogel structure is proved through a microfluidic flow-focusing approach able to produce crosslinked hyaluronic acid nanoparticles, analyzed regarding the crosslink density and mesh size, and connected to the characteristic correlation times of the Gd-DTPA. CONCLUSION: Hydrodenticity explains the boosting (12-times) of the Gd-DTPA relaxivity by tuning hydrogel structural parameters, potentially enabling the reduction of the administration dosage as approved for clinical use. [Formula: see text].
Entities:
Keywords:
hydrodenticity; hydrogels; magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents; microfluidics; nanoparticles
Authors: Franca De Sarno; Alfonso Maria Ponsiglione; Maria Russo; Anna Maria Grimaldi; Ernesto Forte; Paolo Antonio Netti; Enza Torino Journal: Theranostics Date: 2019-02-28 Impact factor: 11.556