This research aimed to develop a novel polymeric micelle system to deliver iron oxide nanoparticles to tumor regions. To achieve the purpose above

the amphiphilic rentipede-like polymer poly(succinimide)-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol)-dodecylamine (PSI-g-PEG-DDA) was successfully synthesized. A study on structure and properties was conducted then through gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). Through the phase transfer process

the amphiphilic polymer was used to encapsulate the superparamagnetic iron oxides (SPIOs) for preparing the stable water-soluble SPIOs. The product was found to form spherical micelles in aqueous media due to its amphiphilic nature with an average particle size of 50 nm measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and TEM imaging. Magnetization curve showed the water-soluble IONPs kept the superparamagnetic property of organic IONPs. An MTT assay showed no significant cytotoxicity of IONPs to HepG2 cells. Remarkably

MRI showed that IONPs displayed a clear concentration-dependent T2 signal reduction effect

with an R2 value of 187.3 (mmol/L)-1 s-1. The result of mice magnetic response imaging (MRI) in vivo showed that this new type of SPIOs caused a great enhancement effect on T2 magnetic resonance and long half-life in the circulation

which confirmed that it could be used as a potential contrast agent.