LAUSR

Abstract Folic acid and D-gluconic acid-capped gadolinium oxide nanorods and nanocuboids were synthesized via co-precipitation method. Comparative study of relaxivity factor on the role of capping and morphology for enhancing contrast ability for T 1 and T 2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was investigated. The obtained r 2 / r 1 ratio for folic acid and D-gluconic acid-capped gadolinium oxide nanorods and nanocuboids was 1.5 and 1.3, respectively. The nanocrystals were characterized and presented with properties such as good dispersity and stability required for standard contrast agent used in MRI. The characterization and the analysis of capping agent for nanocrystals suggest the preferable use of carbohydrate moieties with higher number of hydroxyl functional group reacted with urea and hydrogen peroxide for desired morphology and anisotropic growth. Thermogravimetric–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) illustrated the amount of capping, transition temperature from Gd(OH) 3 to GdOOH and crystallization temperature from GdOOH to Gd 2 O 3 . These nanocrystals would be significant for other biomedical applications such as drug delivery when equipped with well-functionalized drug molecules. Graphic abstract Synergistic effects and mechanism of urea, hydrogen peroxide and capping agent for growth and morphology.