Manganese - Gold Nanospheres as Positive Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Stephanie Jacobs¹, Simona Murph², Matthew Siegfried², Steven Serkiz², Tom Chih-Chuang Hu¹

Gold (Au) nanoparticles are of interest to medical researchers for their: tunable physicochemical properties, ability to bind to cell markers, and near-IR absorption and associated local heating. Manganese (Mn) Au nanospheres were synthesized by adding MnCl₂ to a suspension of citrate capped Au nanospheres. The nanospheres were added to cells that were then imaged using MRI. This study shows the possibility of cellular uptake of the Mn Au nanosphere clusters. The cells appear to uptake and retain more manganese at concentrations from 0.4 - 0.5 mM. Ex vivo MRI measurements showed a T₁ enhancement of nanoparticles within the cells.