Encapsulation of PERFECTA Fluorinated Probe in a Core–Shell Nanostructured Lipid Carrier for ¹⁹ F-MRI Molecular Imaging

We present a nanoplatform based on nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) encapsulating the superfluorinated molecular tracer PERFECTA, developed through a scalable oil-phase evaporation-induced self-assembly method for application in 19F-magnetic resonance imaging (19F-MRI). The NLCs were formulated from an optimized lipid composition to produce spherical nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution, a negative surface charge, and an average diameter of approximately 200 nm. Structural, morphological, and compositional analyses using TEM, SAXS, DLS, 19F–1H HOESY, and DSC confirmed the successful encapsulation of PERFECTA within the liquid lipid core of the NLCs, where it self-segregates into aggregates, without compromising the colloidal stability of the NLCs. 19F-NMR studies demonstrated that the encapsulated tracer retains favorable relaxation characteristics, delivering intense, detectable 19F signals even at a low payload. This enabled rapid imaging with a high signal-to-noise ratio. The structural robustness of the NLCs@F, combined with their excellent imaging capabilities, highlights their potential as a versatile nanoplatform for molecular imaging and future targeted diagnostic applications via 19F-MRI.