Herein, we present the first example of manganese carbonate (MnCO3) nanoparticles (NPs) featuring intrinsic photoluminescence (PL) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging capacity by Terbium (Tb) doping. The Tb-doped MnCO3 NPs were prepared by one-step thermal decomposition of Mn-oleate precursor in the presence of Tb-oleate. The oleate capped Tb-doped MnCO3 NPs are in rhombohedral shape with an average size of about 13 nm. When endowed with high water-dispersible via replacing oleate with carboxylic silane, the Tb-doped MnCO3 NPs exhibit distinct intrinsic PL originated from the doped Tb3+ ions. Meanwhile, the MR imaging capacity of Tb-doped MnCO3 NPs is well retained, as demonstrated by a high r(1) relaxivity of 4.0428 mM(-1) s(-1) and a significant MR contrast enhancement effect towards tiny brain glioma in mice. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.