Synthesis, characterization and MRI application of magnetite water-soluble cubic nanoparticles

Magnetic nanoparticle size is one of the key factors determining its magnetic and biological properties. Herein, we report a synthesis of magnetite uniform-sized cubic nanoparticles with 10, 15 and 20 nm edge lengths for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The structure and physicochemical properties of obtained magnetite nanocubes (MNCbs) were studied by multiple methods. MNCbs conjugated with Pluronic F-127 exhibited high colloidal stability in aqueous medium. Synthesized MNCbs demonstrated improved T2-relaxation comparing to commercially available contrast agents proving that these nanocubes can be used for MRI.