Amphiphiles with polyethyleneoxide-polyethylenecarbonate chains for hydrophilic coating of iron oxide cores, loading by Gd(III) ions and tuning R2/R1 ratio

The present work is aimed at the synthesis of hydrophilic colloids with convenient transverse and longitudinal NMR-relaxation times. Core-shell morphology with iron oxide cores and hydrophilic shell enriched by Gd(III) ions is the basis for the colloids with dual-mode relaxivities. Polyethyleneoxide-polyethylenecarbonate derivatives of p-tert-butylphenols are introduced as amphiphiles for efficient hydrophilization of oleate-stabilized iron oxide nanoparticles. The obtained results reveal the easy variation of the synthetic conditions as the route to switch from the recoating to the dissolution of the oleate-stabilized iron-oxide nanoparticles. The length of ethylenecarbonate chains is highlighted as the factor affecting the transverse relaxivity (R2) and the colloid properties of the synthesized colloids, evaluated from DLS data. The complex ability of ethylenecarbonate chains is the reason for loading of the synthesized colloids by Gd(III) ions in aqueous dispersions at specific conditions. These conditions are introduced herein as a route of gaining in longitudinal relaxivity (R1) and tuning R2/R1 ratio.