文摘
Polymeric nanohybrid P22 virus capsids were used as templates for high density Gd3+ loading to explore magnetic field-dependent (0.5-.0 T) proton relaxivity. The field-dependence of relaxivity by the spatially constrained Gd3+ in the capsids was similar when either the loading of the capsids or the concentration of capsids was varied. The ionic longitudinal relaxivity, r 1, decreased from 25-2?mM? s? at 0.5?T to 6-0?mM??s? at 7?T. The ionic transverse relaxivity, r 2, increased from 28-7?mM??s? at 0.5?T to 39-0?mM??s? at 7?T. The r 2/r 1 ratio increased linearly with increasing magnetic field from about 1 at 0.5?T, which is typical of T 1 contrast agents, to 5- at 7?T, which is approaching the ratios for T 2 contrast agents. Increases in electron paramagnetic resonance line widths at 80 and 150?K and higher microwave powers required for signal saturation indicate enhanced Gd3+ electron spin relaxation rates for the Gd3+-loaded capsids than for low concentration Gd3+. The largest r 2/r 1 at 7?T was for the highest cage loading, which suggests that Gd3+–Gd3+ interactions within the capsid enhance r 2 more than r 1.