In Vivo Positive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Brain Cancer (U87MG) Using Folic Acid-Conjugated Polyacrylic Acid-Coated Ultrasmall Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles

Ultrasmall nanoparticles are potential candidates for application as high-performance imaging agents. Herein, we present the synthesis and characterization of folic acid (FA)-conjugated polyacrylic (PAA)-coated MnO with an average particle diameter 2.7 nm. FA conferred cancer-targeting ability, while PAA good colloidal stability low cellular cytotoxicity on FA-PAA-coated nanoparticles. Further, exhibited a high relaxivity (r1) value 9.3 s?1mM?1 (r2/r1 = 2.2). Their T1 magnetic resonance contrast agents was confirmed by their enhanced enhancements at brain cancer (U87MG) site upon intravenous administration to mice tails.