Engineered Paramagnetic Graphene Quantum Dots with Enhanced Relaxivity for Tumor Imaging

Nano contrast agents (Nano CA) are nanomaterials used to increase contrast in the medical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, the related relaxation mechanism of the Nano CA is not clear yet and little significant breakthrough in relaxivity enhancement has been achieved. Herein, a new hydrophilic Gd-DOTA complex functionalized with different chain length of PEG was synthesized and incorporated into graphene quantum dots (GQD) to obtain paramagnetic graphene quantum dots (PGQD). We performed a variable temperature and variable-field intensity NMR study in aqueous solution on the water exchange and rotational dynamics of three different chain lengths of PGQD. The optimal GQD with paramagnetic chain length shows a great improvement in performance on H-1 NMR relaxometric studies. In vitro results demonstrated that the relaxivity of the designed PGQD could be controlled by regulating the PEG length, and its relaxivity was similar to 16 times higher than that of current commercial MRI contrast agents (e.g., Gd-DTPA), on a per Gd basis. The relaxivity of the Nano CA can be rationally tuned to obtain unmatched potentials in MR imaging, exemplified by preparation of the paramagnetic GQD with the enhanced T-1 relaxivity. The fabricated PGQDs with suitable PEG length got the best relaxivity at 1.5 T. After intravenous injection, its feeding process by solid tumor could even be monitored by clinically used 1.5 T MRI scanners. This research will also provide an excellent platform for the design and synthesis of highly effective MR contrast agents.