Poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization and in vivo study as MRI contrast agent

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) coated with biocompatible materials is very promising for in vivo applications, such as contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for tumor therapy or cardiovascular disease. Biomedical application requires the biocompatible SPION, which is stable and well dispersed in water at physiological pH or in physiological salinity. Many different approaches are used for generation of functionalized nanoparticles in order to obtain the required properties for biomedical uses. In order to obtain biocompatible SPION, SPIONs with size 5 ± 1 nm have been synthesized and these SPIONs have been coated with poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). HRTEM, XRD, FT-IR, and MPMS measurements were employed to investigate the properties of nanoparticles. The PLGA coated magnetic fluids have been found to be well dispersed in water. The aqueous dispersion of the magnetic fluids has been used for in vivo MRI.