The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Honors College Spring 2015 Physical Properties of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Nicklaus Carter The University of Maine Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors Part of the Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons Recommended Citation Carter, Nicklaus, "Physical Properties of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles" (2015). Honors College. 210. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/210 This Honors Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors College by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF IRON OXIDE NANOPARTICLES By Nicklaus Carter A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for a Degree with Honors (Bioengineering) The Honors College University of Maine May 2015 Advisory Committee: Michael D. Mason, Ph. D, Professor of Bioengineering, Advisor Sara L. Walton, Ph.D, Professor of Bioengineering William J. DeSisto, Ph.D, Professor of Chemical Engineering Robert W. Meulenberg, Ph. D, Associate Professor of Physics and LASST Sarah Harlan-Haughey, Ph. D, Professor of English and Honors ABSTRACT: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) relies heavily on contrast agents such that diagnosis of various diseases can be made with increased confidence. Current contrast agents for MRI depend on various chelated molecules composed of a toxic gadolinium ion, Gd3+. In 2006, a discovery was made connecting Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) and these gadolinium based contrast agents (GBCAs). The connection between life threatening NSF and GBCAs stems from patients with pre-existing kidney malfunctions. It has been proposed that an alternative agent such as iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) be investigated.