Synthesis of cytocompatible Fe3O4@ZSM-5 nanocomposite as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent

In this study, ZSM-5 nano zeolite was used as a support material for iron oxide nanoparticles and the potential ability of the nanocomposite for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent was investigated. The nanocomposite was synthesized by hydrothermal method and characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. MRI was carried out by use of a 1.5 Tesla clinical scanner. The T-2 weighted images were prepared and the r(2) relaxivity was calculated. The sizes of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and related nanocomposite were 13-24 nm and 80-150 nm, respectively. Results of MTT assay confirmed that the prepared nanocomposite is cytocompatible. The r(2) relaxivity of the Fe3O4@ZSM-5 nanocomposite was 457.1 mM(-1) s(-1). This study suggests that the Fe3O4@ZSM-5 nanocomposite has potential to use as an MRI T-2 contrast agent. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.