Encapsulation of fluorinated nanoparticles as potential off/on probe for 19F MRI

Abstract

The present work deals with the synthesis of fluorine labeled gold nanoparticles followed by their encapsulation in gelatin nanoparticles. The choice of gelatin is based on its role as substrate for gelatinases MMP enzymes (MMP-2/9). Hence, our hypothesis is that when our fluorine labeled NPs are encapsulated in gelatin the 19F MRI signal would be OFF. The disassembly of the gelatin NPs triggered by its digestion by MMPs should lead to the turning ON of the signal.