Abstract #1900

Effect of PEG Corona Lengths on MR Relaxivity and Off-Resonance Saturation Sensitivity of Superparamagnetic Polymeric Micelles

Chalermchai Khemtong¹, Osamu Togao², Jimin Ren², Chase W. Kessinger¹, Masaya Takahashi², A Dean Sherry², Jinming Gao¹

¹Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States; ²Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States

Herein, we report the effect of PEG corona lengths on MR relaxivity and ORS sensitivity of SPPM. Results showed that the length of the pegylated shell is a critical physical parameter that controls MR relaxivity and ORS sensitivity of SPPM. SPPM with shorter PEG corona has a higher T2 relaxivity and hence ORS sensitivity. Results from this study provide the fundamental insights on the design of SPPM as ultrasensitive MRI nanoprobes for in vivo molecular imaging applications.