ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Magnetically modified bentonite as a possible contrast agent in MRI of gastrointestinal tract

H. Bartonkova, M. Mashlan, I. Medrik, D. Jancik, and R. Zboril

Research Centre of Nanomaterials, Palacký University, Svobody 26, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic

E-mail: miroslav.maslan@upol.cz

Received: 9 November 2006  Revised: 10 April 2007  Accepted: 16 April 2007

Abstract: A composite of iron oxide nanoparticles and mineral matrix has been studied by XRD, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and TEM. Magnetite and superparamagnetic magnetite have been identified by Mössbauer spectroscopy in the nanocomposite. A relationship between the hyperfine parameters and iron oxide particle size has been confirmed by TEM. The optimal concentration of “magnetite—bentonite” composite, when the MRI signal is fully reduced, was found for using this composite as a negative contrast agent.

Keywords: magnetite - bentonite - nanoparticles - MRI - Mössbauer spectroscopy

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-007-0057-9

Chemical Papers 61 (5) 413–416 (2007)