IKBFU Scientists Found a Way to Improve the Accuracy of MRI Scans

This discovery is important for practical applications where the stability of the magnetic state is crucial. 

Editorial staff of the TASS website

Researchers at the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University (IKBFU) have found a way to improve the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. This was reported to TASS by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.

Researchers at the SEC ”Smart Materials and Biomedical Applications” at the IKBFU have found a way to control the properties of cobalt ferrite (CoFe O ), a material that is critical for modern technologies. <...> This discovery has practical implications for applications where the stability of the magnetic state is important. For example, in medicine, these nanoparticles serve as contrast agents for MRI. If their properties are predictable and stable, the image can be maximally clear, allowing doctors to accurately distinguish between healthy tissues and affected areas. In the field of data storage, such as in hard drives, the magnetic “stiffness” helps to read the signal more accurately and minimizes the risk of information loss,

the agency's source said.

The researchers discovered that adding a few hours of reaction time during the hydrothermal production process can significantly alter the characteristics of the nanoparticles. They found that the extra synthesis time had little impact on the physical size of the particles, but it did make their internal structure more organized. As a result, these magnets began to retain their state more effectively.

The main significance of this discovery lies not in the new chemistry, but in the technological leverage it provides. Instead of adding complex components or undergoing costly modifications to the composition, it is sufficient to change the production mode,
said Vitaly Salnikov, a Co-author of the study and a Junior Researcher at the SEC “Smart Materials and Biomedical Applications”.

 
According to Salnikov, this means lower implementation costs and a simpler approach to obtaining the desired material properties for manufacturers.