NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGE CONTRAST AGENT COMPRISING WATER-DISPERSIBLE MELANIN NANOPARTICLES

摘要

PURPOSE: A nuclear magnetic resonance image contrast agent is provided to be dispersed well in water, free of cytotoxin, and have a long retention time in vivo based on melanin nanoparticles with an identical size and shape. CONSTITUTION: A nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) image contrast agent comprises: a melanin nanoparticle which is stably dispersed in water; a paramagnetic metal ion which is covalently bonded with the melanin nanoparticle; and a modified PEG on the surface of the melanin nanoparticle. The melanin is extracted from squid ink and has a 30-600nm diameter.