Metal nanocomposite, preparation method and use thereof

1. A metal nanocomposite comprising one or more metal nanoparticles having a hydrophobic surface; and one or more cationic and hydrophilic polymers associated with the hydrophobic surface;

wherein:

the one or more metal nanoparticles is MnFe 2 O 4 ;

the hydrophobic surface contains an organic surfactant having one or more hydrophobic moieties; and

the one or more cationic and hydrophilic polymers are selected from the group consisting of: polyethyleneimine, polyacrylamide, and polyornithine.

2. The metal nanocomposite of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cationic and hydrophilic polymers enclose at least partially the hydrophobic surface.

3. The metal nanocomposite of claim 1 , wherein the one or more metal nanoparticles have an average diameter of about 1 nm to about 1,000 nm.

4. The metal nanocomposite of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cationic and hydrophilic polymers form a shell that has an average thickness of about 1 nm to about 40 nm.

5. The metal nanocomposite of claim 1 , wherein the at least one organic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl trimethylammonium halide; a saturated fatty acid; an unsaturated fatty acid; a trialkylphosphine; a trialkylphosphine oxide; an alkylamine; an alkyl thiol; a sodium alkyl sulfate; and a sodium alkylphosphate.

6. The metal nanocomposite of claim 5 , wherein the at least one organic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of: oleic acid; lauric acid; dodecylic acid; and dodecyl amine.

7. The metal nanocomposite of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cationic and hydrophilic polymers have an average molecular weight (Mw) of about 1,000 to about 1,000,000.

8. The metal nanocomposite of claim 7 , wherein the one or more cationic and hydrophilic polymers have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 2,000 to about 30,000.

9. The metal nanocomposite of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cationic and hydrophilic polymers are bound to an active substance selected from the group consisting of: a cell; an antigen; an antibody; a nucleic acid; a polypeptide; an organic fluorescent material; a carbohydrate; a lipid; a tumor marker-specific binding material; and a pharmaceutically active ingredient.

10. The metal nanocomposite of claim 9 , wherein the active substance is bound to one or more amine groups of the one or more cationic and hydrophilic polymers.

11. The metal nanocomposite of claim 9 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises DNA or RNA.

12. The metal nanocomposite of claim 9 , wherein the organic fluorescent material comprises RITC (rhodamin A isothiocyanate) or FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate).

13. The metal nanocomposite of claim 9 , wherein the tumor marker-specific binding material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: phosphatidylserine; VEGFR; an integrin receptor; a Tie2 receptor; a somatostatin receptor; a vasointestinal peptide receptor; Herceptin; Rituxan; and folic acid.

14. The metal nanocomposite of claim 9 , wherein the pharmaceutically active ingredient comprises one or more agents selected from the group consisting of: an anticancer agent; an antibiotic; a hormone; a hormone antagonist; an interleukin; an interferon; a growth factor; a tumor necrosis factor; an endotoxin; a lymphotoxin; a eurokinase; a streptokinase; a tissue plasminogen activator; a protease inhibitor; an alkylphosphocholine; a radioisotope labeled component; a surfactant; a cardiovascular system drug; a gastrointestinal system drug; and a nervous system drug.

15. The metal nanocomposite of claim 1 , whrein the one or more cationic and hydrophilic polymers is polyethyleneimine.

16. A contrast composition comprising the metal nanocomposite of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

17. A diagnosis composition comprising the metal nanocomposite of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

18. The diagnosis composition of claim 17 , wherein the one or more cationic and hydrophilic polymers in the metal nanocomposite are bound to an active substance selected from the group consisting of: a cell; an antigen; an antibody; a nucleic acid; a polypeptide; an organic fluorescent material; a carbohydrate; a lipid; a tumor marker-specific binding material; and a pharmaceutically active ingredient.

19. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the metal nanocomposite of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

20. A method for preparing a metal nanocomposite of claim 1 comprising:

providing an aqueous solution containing one or more cationic and hydrophilic polymers to an organic solution containing one or more metal nanoparticles having hydrophobic surface, to form an emulsion; and

removing the organic solvent from the emulsion to form a metal nanocomposite preparation;

wherein:

the one or more metal nanoparticles is MnFe 2 O 4 ;

the hydrophobic surface contains an organic surfactant having one or more hydrophobic moieties; and

the one or more cationic and hydrophilic polymers are selected from the group consisting of: polyethyleneimine, polyarcylamide, and polyornithine.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises binding the cationic and hydrophilic polymer with an active substance selected from the group consisting of: a cell; an antigen; an antibody; a nucleic acid; a polypeptide; an organic fluorescent material; a carbohydrate; a lipid; a tumor marker-specific binding material; and a pharmaceutically active ingredient.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises performing a thermal decomposition reaction of a hydrophobic surface stabilizer and a precursor of the metal nanoparticle in a solvent to form the one or more metal nanoparticles having a hydrophobic surface.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the precursor comprises a metal carbonyl compound or a metal acetylacetonate compound.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the organic solution comprises one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of: hexane; chloroform; benzene; diethylether; ethyl acetate; and dichloromethane.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of: water; PBS; alcohol; and dimethylsulfoxide.

26. The method of claim 20 , wherein the emulsion is formed under ultrasonication.

27. The method of claim 20 , wherein the organic solvent is removed by evaporation.

28. A method for using a contrast composition to image the cells or tissues of a subject, the method comprising:

(a) administering an effective amount of a contrast composition comprising the metal nanocomposite of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient to a subject; and

(b) detecting a signal emitted by the metal nanocomposite from the subject to obtain images of the cells or tissues of the subject.

29. A method for diagnosing a medical condition, the method comprising:

(a) administering an effective amount of a diagnosis composition comprising the metal nanocomposite of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient to a subject; and

(b) detecting a signal emitted by the metal nanocomposite from the subject to obtain images, wherein the image is compared to a reference standard in order to diagnose the medical condition in the subject.

30. A method for simultaneously diagnosing and treating a medical condition, the method comprising:

(a) administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the metal nanocomposite of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient to a subject, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is bound to an active substance; and

(b) detecting a signal emitted by the metal nanocomposite from the subject to obtain an image, wherein the image is compared to a reference standard in order to diagnose the medical condition in the subject and the active substance treats the medical condition in the subject.