Abstract:This study reports the T1 and T2 relaxation rates of rhodamine‐labeled anionic magnetic nanoparticles determined at 7, 11.7, and 17.6 T both in solution and after cellular internalization. Therefore cells were incubated with rhodamine‐labeled anionic magnetic nanoparticles and were prepared at decreasing concentrations. Additionally, rhodamine‐labeled anionic magnetic nanoparticles in solution were used for extracellular measurements. T1 and T2 were determined at 7, 11.7, and 17.6 T. T1 times were determined with an inversion‐recovery snapshot‐flash sequence. T2 times were obtained from a multispin‐echo sequence. Inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry was used to determine the iron content in all samples, and r1 and r2 were subsequently calculated. The results were then compared with cells labeled with AMI‐25 and VSOP C‐200. In solution, the r1 and r2 of rhodamine‐labeled anionic magnetic nanoparticles were 4.78/379 (7 T), 3.28/389 (11.7 T), and 2.00/354 (17.6 T). In cells, the r1 and r2 were 0.21/56 (7 T), 0.19/37 (11.7 T), and 0.1/23 (17.6 T). This corresponded to an 11‐ to 23‐fold decrease in r1 and an 8‐ to 15‐fold decrease in r2. A decrease in r1 was observed for AMI‐25 and VSOP C‐200. AMI‐25 and VSOP exhibited a 2‐ to 8‐fold decrease in r2. In conclusion, cellular internalization of iron oxide nanoparticles strongly decreased their T1 and T2 potency. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.