Boron nitride nanotubes for boron neutron capture therapy as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging at 3T

Authors:   L. Menichetti,D. {De Marchi},L. Calucci,G. Ciofani,A. Menciassi,C. Forte,
Journal: Applied Radiation and Isotopes
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2011.02.032
Abstract: The applicability of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) containing Fe paramagnetic impurities as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was investigated. The measurement of longitudinal and transverse relaxation times of water protons in homogeneous aqueous dispersions of BNNTs wrapped with poly(l-lysine) at different concentrations allowed longitudinal (r1) and transverse (r2) relaxivities to be determined at 3T. The r2 value was comparable to those of commercial superparamagnetic iron oxide Nanoparticles, indicating that Fe-containing BNNTs have the potential to be used as T2 contrast-enhancement agents in MRI at 3T.