Preparation and characterization of biofunctionalized chitosan/Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles for application in liver magnetic resonance imaging

• Biofunctionalized PEG/LA-CS@Fe3O4 NPs were prepared in one step.
• PEG/LA-CS@Fe3O4 NPs show excellent monodispersity and suspension stability.
• PEG/LA-CS@Fe3O4 NPs show excellent biocompatibility.
• PEG/LA-CS/Fe3O4 NPs are efficiently used in liver magnetic resonance imaging.

Biofunctionalized chitosan@Fe3O4 nanoparticles are synthesized by combining Fe3O4 and CS chemically modified with PEG and lactobionic acid in one step. The biofunctionalized nanoparticles are characterized by TEM, X-ray, DLS, zeta-potential and magnetic measurements. The in vitro and in vivo behaviors of the biofunctionalized nanoparticles, especially, the cytotoxicity, the protein resistance, metabolism and iron toxicity are assessed. The functional groups, PEG enable the nanoparticles more biocompatible and the lactobionic acid groups enable liver targeting. The potential applications of the nanoparticles in liver magnetic resonance imaging are confirmed. The results demonstrated that the nanoparticles are suspension stability, non-cytotoxicity, non-tissue toxicity and sensitive in liver magnetic resonance imaging, representing potential tools for applications in the biomedical field.