Silica-gadolinium particles loaded with gossypol for simultaneous therapeutic effect and MRI contrast enhancement

Gossypol is a polyphenolic compound with a wide range of therapeutic properties. The incorporation of gossypol in a porous gadolinium-silica matrix was considered for both therapeutic effect and contrast in magnetic resonance imaging. The purpose of the study was to evaluate gossypol loading in silica-gadolinium particles prepared at different pH values, as a first step in designing new theranostic (therapeutic and diagnostic) compounds. Silica-gadolinium particles of 98SiO2·2Gd2O3 (mol%) composition were prepared following the sol–gel route. The structure of the particles and their loading with gossypol were investigated by X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. All results confirmed the highest loading of gossypol on the surface of the particles synthesised at lower pH. The potential application in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of silica-gadolinium particles loaded with gossypol was tested through MRI measurements that showed improved contrast properties compared with the pristine silica-gadolinium particles.