Biocompatible Nanoparticles of KGd(H₂O)₂[Fe(CN)₆]·H₂O with Extremely High T₁‑Weighted Relaxivity Owing to Two Water Molecules Directly Bound to the Gd(III) Center

A simple one-step method for preparing biocompatible nanoparticles of gadolinium ferrocyanide coordination polymer KGd­(H₂O)₂[Fe­(CN)₆]·H₂O is reported. The crystal structure of this coordination polymer is determined by X-ray powder diffraction using the bulk materials. The stability, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and MR phantom and cellular imaging studies suggest that this coordination-polymer structural platform offers a unique opportunity for developing the next generation of T₁-weighted contrast agents with high relaxivity as cellular MR probes for biological receptors or markers. Such high-relaxivity MR probes may hold potential in the study of molecular events and may be used for in vivo MR imaging in biomedical research and clinical applications.