Discrete Brush Polymers Enhance F MRI Performance through Architectural Precision

Authors

Nduka D. Ogbonna, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
Parikshit Guragain, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
Venkatesh Mayandi, Department of Pathological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
Cyrus Sadrinia, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
Raman Danrad, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
Seetharama Jois, Department of Pathological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
Jimmy Lawrence, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-14-2025

Publication Title

Journal of the American Chemical Society

Abstract

The development of metal-free magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents demands precise control over molecular architecture to achieve optimal performance. Current fluorine-based contrast agents rely on maximizing fluorine content ( > 20 wt %) for sensitivity, requiring extensive solubilizing groups that lead to signal-diminishing aggregation. Here we show that discrete brush polymers (Đ = 1.0) with precise backbone lengths and a single terminal fluorine group achieve superior imaging performance through architectural control rather than high fluorine content. This design prevents both intra- and intermolecular fluorine aggregation while maintaining high aqueous solubility, enabling sharper signals and higher sensitivity than conventional systems despite containing less than 7 wt % fluorine. Systematic investigation reveals how backbone length controls fluorine mobility and signal generation, establishing clear structure-property relationships previously obscured by molecular heterogeneity. This work demonstrates how precise architectural control can enhance functional performance beyond traditional approaches, providing new strategies for designing imaging materials.

First Page

16171

Last Page

16178

PubMed ID

40310973

Issue

19

Recommended Citation

Ogbonna, Nduka D.; Guragain, Parikshit; Mayandi, Venkatesh; Sadrinia, Cyrus; Danrad, Raman; Jois, Seetharama; and Lawrence, Jimmy, "Discrete Brush Polymers Enhance F MRI Performance through Architectural Precision" (2025). School of Medicine Faculty Publications. 3885.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/som_facpubs/3885
10.1021/jacs.5c00938