Partially Coated T1 MRI Nanoparticles for Stable Dispersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing T1 MRI contrast agents face challenges with dispersion stability and contrast ability due to fast molecule movement and low surface area-volume ratio, necessitating improved nanoparticle design for enhanced performance.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the selection of a support material with hydrophilic functional groups, manufacturing support particles with a specific size, and partially coating T1 contrast material on the surface to form nanoparticles with exposed functional groups, achieving improved stability and contrast ability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If metal chelate-based materials are used as T1 contrast agents, then they can induce spin-lattice relaxation, but they fail to effectively relax hydrogen nuclear spin due to fast molecule movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrast abilityVSAvoidmolecule movement speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The contrast agent is segmented into a core-shell nanoparticle structure where the metal chelate contrast material is confined within a polymer shell. This segmentation restricts the fast tumbling motion of small molecules while maintaining the contrast mechanism, effectively resolving the contradiction between molecular mobility and relaxation efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A composite nanoparticle system is created combining polymer materials (for structural stability and controlled mobility) with metal chelate contrast agents. This composite structure optimizes both the mechanical properties and the magnetic relaxation properties, achieving effective T1 contrast while controlling molecule movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If metal oxide-based nanoparticles are used, then they allow cooperative nuclear spin relaxation by several metals, but the effect is restricted due to low surface area-volume ratio

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrast abilityVSAvoidsurface area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer shell is designed with specific local properties (hydrophilic groups, pore size, cross-linking density) that are optimized for contrast agent performance. This local quality optimization at the shell interface maximizes the surface area effectiveness for spin relaxation while maintaining the nanoparticle's core functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The polymer shell is designed with a porous structure that increases the effective surface area and provides pathways for water molecule interaction. This porous architecture allows cooperative spin relaxation by multiple metals while overcoming the limited surface area of solid metal oxide cores

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Reliability

If nanoparticles are coated with T1 contrast material, then contrast ability is enhanced, but dispersion stability decreases due to aggregation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrast abilityVSAvoiddispersion stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer shell acts as an intermediary layer between the hydrophobic metal chelate contrast material and the aqueous environment. This intermediary shell prevents direct contact between contrast material particles (preventing aggregation) while allowing water molecules to penetrate and interact with the contrast agents for effective relaxation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

A flexible polymer shell encapsulates the contrast material, providing steric stabilization that prevents nanoparticle aggregation. The shell's flexibility allows it to adapt to environmental conditions while maintaining dispersion stability across varying pH, temperature, and ionic strength conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method results in nanoparticles with significantly enhanced dispersion stability and contrast ability, maintaining stability across varying NaCl concentrations, pH levels, and temperatures, and exhibiting high T1 relaxivity.

Implementation Method 1

selecting a support material capable of, when particlized, exposing hydrophilic chemical functional groups on a surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophilic interaction: Hydrophile

Implementation Method 2

hydrophilic chemical functional groups exposed on a surface of each of the support particles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrogen bonding:

Implementation Method 3

TI contrast agents are composed of paramagnetic materials capable of inducing spin-lattice relaxation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpin-lattice relaxation:

Implementation Method 4

paramagnetic materials capable of inducing spin-lattice relaxation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectParamagnetism:

Implementation Method 5

metal oxide-based nanoparticles have a slow molecule movement compared with the metal chelate nanoparticles, and allow cooperative nuclear spin relaxation by several metals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooperative nuclear spin relaxation:

Data Source

PatentUS12496363B2Method for increasing dispersion stability of nanoparticles as T1 MRI contrast agent and T1 MRI contrast nanoparticles

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 INVENTERA INC

AI summary

The present invention improves an existing contrast agent, especially, a T1 contrast agent, and adopts a strategy in which the T1 contrast material is partially coated on a support surface to which a hydrophilic functional group is exposed. The partial coating strategy adopted in the present invention improves both the stability and contrast performance of T1 contrast agent nanoparticles, and such a strategy leads to very interesting technical development.