One-step preparation of nano-in-micro poly(vinyl alcohol) embolic microspheres and used for dual-modal T1/T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging

Nano-in-micro poly(vinyl alcohol) embolic microspheres are one-step prepared via a droplet-based microfluidic device. Gd2O3 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles are in-situ synthesized and simultaneously as cross-linkers of poly(vinyl alcohol) chains. These nanoparticles endow poly(vinyl alcohol) microspheres good magnetic property, magnetothermal effect and dual enhanced T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. As a novel embolic agent, these microspheres may integrate embolization, hyperthermia and hybrid probes for magnetic resonance imaging.222