D-glucuronic acid coated Gd(IO₃)₃·2H ₂O nanomaterial as a potential T₁ MRI-CT dual contrast agent

To date, only a few nanosystems have been investigated as T₁ MRI-CT dual contrast agents. The T₁ MRI-CT dual functionality of a material depends on its longitudinal water-proton relaxivity (r₁) and X-ray absorption strength. We explored Gd(IO₃)₃· 2H₂O nanomaterial because Gd is the most powerful element for T ₁ MRI contrast agents, and both Gd and I absorb X-ray radiation; Gd absorbs X-ray radiation ca. 2.5 times more strongly than I. D-Glucuronic acid coated Gd(IO₃)₃·2H₂O nanomaterial showed a very large r₁ of 52.3 s^-1 mM^-1 (r ₂/r₁ = 1.21), which could be ascribed to hydrated water molecules in the lattice. Its X-ray absorption intensity was also stronger than those of commercial molecular iodine CT contrast agents. This result clearly suggests that D-glucuronic acid coated Gd(IO₃)₃· 2H₂O nanomaterial is a potential T₁ MRI-CT dual contrast agent. D-Glucuronic acid coated Gd(IO₃)₃·2H ₂O nanomaterial is synthesized in one-pot and its T₁ MRI-CT dual imaging properties are investigated. It has a very large r ₁ and strong X-ray absorption, which are prerequisites for high-performance T₁ MRI-CT dual contrast agents.