Sensitivity and spatial resolution in Magnetic Particle Imaging are affected by magnetic properties of the nanoparticle tracers used during imaging. Here, we have carried out a comprehensive magnetic characterization of single-core iron oxide nanoparticles that were designed for MPI. We used ac susceptometry, fluxgate magnetorelaxometry, and magnetic particle spectroscopy to evaluate the tracer’s magnetic core size, hydrodynamic size, and magnetic anisotropy. Our results present a self-consistent set of magnetic and structural parameters for the tracers that is consistent with direct measurements of size using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering and that can be used to better understand their MPI performance.
The drive-field frequency of Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) systems plays an important role for system design, safety requirements and tracer selection. Because the commonly utilized MPI drive-field frequency of 25 kHz might be increased in future system generations to avoid peripheral nerve stimulation, a performance evaluation of tracers at higher frequencies is desirable. We have studied single-core magnetite nanoparticles that were optimized for MPI applications, utilizing Magnetic Particle Spectrometers (MPS) with drive-field frequencies in the range from 1 kHz up to 100 kHz. The particles have core diameters of 25 nm and a hydrodynamic size of 77 nm. Measurements in the frequency range above 5 kHz were carried out with a newly designed MPS system. In addition, to exclude possible particle interaction, samples of different concentrations were characterized and compared.
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