Nontoxic Gd3+ and Tb3+ co-induced polyelectrolyte nano-aggregates (GTIPAs) for luminescence/magnetic resonance dual-modality imaging

Multimodal nanoprobes are of great significance in clinical diagnosis, because they integrate the advantages of multiple imaging methods. The combination of multiple imaging modes provides more comprehensive and complex information than single-mode imaging, which can greatly improve clinical diagnoses. In this paper, Gd3+ and Tb3+ co-induced polyelectrolyte nanoaggregates (GTIPAs) are introduced as a novel dual-mode imaging probe. Containing gadolinium and terbium, GTIPAs are regular spherical nanoparticles, whose diameters are about 150 nm. As a fluorescent nanomaterial, GTIPAs have strong and stable luminescence intensity. At the same time, as an MRI contrast agent, GTIPAs exhibit a good contrast effect and a high longitudinal relaxation rate. In addition, the polyelectrolytes reduce the cytotoxicity of the complexes, confering excellent biocompatibility and water solubility. Therefore, GTIPAs are non-toxic luminescence/magnetic resonance dual-mode imaging probes.