Structure optimization for enhanced luminescent and paramagnetic properties of hydrophilic nanomaterial based on heterometallic Gd-Re complexes

Abstract

© 2018 The work introduces facile synthetic route of conversion of Gd(III) complexes with hexanuclear cluster anions [{Re6Q8}(CN)6]4− (Q = S2−, Se2− or Te2−) into colloidal core-shell nanoparticles, where hard cores are the water insoluble Gdx[{Re6Q8}(CN)6]y complexes, hydrophilic shells are built from (PEO)100-(PPO)65-(PEO)100 (F-127). The comparative analysis of TEM and PXRD data for the dried colloids in correlation with the colloidal, luminescence and magnetic relaxation properties of the aqueous colloids indicates that the nature of the cluster anions [{Re6Q8}(CN)6]4− greatly affects the size and crystallinity of the hard cores, which in turn influences both magnetic relaxivity and luminescence of the corresponding aqueous colloids. The analysis of the results revealed hydrophilic colloids based on Gdx[{Re6S8}(CN)6]y as the best ones from the viewpoint of the functional properties, which along with the low cytotoxicity makes them very promising basis for further application as contrast agents in both MRI and luminescent imaging.