Gd(n)(3+)@CNTs-PEG versus Gadovist®: In Vitro Assay

OBJECTIVES: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon with a length-to-diameter ratio greater than 10(6) with the potential uses as medical diagnostic or therapeutic agents. In vitro studies have revealed that gadolinium (Gd) nanoparticle-catalyzed single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) possess superparamagnetic properties, which enable them to be used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our study synthesized Gd-CNT for use as MRI contrast agents. METHODS: To reduce the toxicity and solubility of CNTs, it was functionalized, and after loading with Gd was coated with polyethylene glycols (PEG). We then synthesized different concentrations of Gd(n)(3+)@CNTs-PEG and Gadovist(®) to be evaluated as MRI contrast agents. RESULTS: The analysis showed that the Gd concentration in Gadovist(®) was 12.18% higher than synthesized Gd(n)(3+)@CNTs-PEG, but the mean signal intensity of the Gd(n)(3+)@CNTs-PEG was approximately 3.3% times higher than Gadovist(®). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that synthesized Gd(n)(3+)@CNTs-PEG has the potential to be used as an MRI contrast agent in vitro, but in vivo assessment is necessary to determine the bio-distribution, kinetic, and signal enhancement characteristics.