# Development of elliptic core-shell nanoparticles with fluorinated surfactants for 19F MRI

## TL;DR

Researchers developed elliptical nanoparticles with a fluorinated core for use in 19F MRI, offering a new shape for improved imaging.

## Contribution

The creation of elliptic PFCE@SiO2 nanoparticles using fluorinated surfactants introduces a new morphology for 19F MRI probes.

## Key findings

- Elliptic PFCE@SiO2 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using fluorinated surfactants.
- The nanoparticles showed strong 19F NMR signals, indicating high sensitivity for 19F MRI.
- The elliptic shape provides a new option for 19F MRI probes, differing from conventional spherical shapes.

## Abstract

Perfluorocarbon-encapsulated silica nanoparticles possess attractive features such as biological inertness and favorable colloidal properties for bioimaging with fluorine magnetic resonance imaging (19F MRI). Herein, a series of elliptic shaped silica nanoparticles with perfluorocarbon liquid perfluoro-15-crown-5 ether as core (PFCE@SiO2) were synthesized using fluorinated surfactants N-(perfluorononylmethyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (C10-TAC) and N-(perfluoroheptylmethyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (C8-TAC). The nanoparticles are characterized to obtain elliptic core-shell structures. PFCE@SiO2 showed strong 19F NMR signals of the encapsulated PFCE, indicating the potential as a highly sensitive 19F MRI probe. These elliptic PFCE@SiO2 nanoparticles provide a new option of 19F MRI probe with a morphology different from conventional nanospheres.