Micro-CT evaluation of gold nanoparticles for application in in-vivo imaging

College

College of Science

Department/Unit

Physics

Document Type

Archival Material/Manuscript

Publication Date

2010

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles have been used in research for both imaging and treatment of cancer. Primary advantage of gold nanoparticles is its tunability of size, particularly in the nanometer range. Due to their small size, they can easily travel thru microscopic capillaries of the circulatory system, facilitating intravenous use. It is also proven to be non-toxic and this makes it suitable for in-vivo application. It also has optimal attenuation energy in which X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging is widely used. The internal anatomic structures can therefore be easily visualized without surgery. However administration of contrast agents can be required. Diagnostic imaging requires a certain intensity of signal from an area of interest is achieved in order to differentiate structures under observation from surrounding tissues. Attenuation of different tissues differs and this attenuation is not sufficient for clear and diagnostically significant discrimination between normal and pathological regions in areas or regions ions of interest. In addition, non-enhanced imaging techniques are useful only when relatively large tissue areas are involved in the pathological process. To achieve better attenuation sufficient for diagnostic purposes, contrast agents are used able to absorb energies much stronger than surrounding tissues. Current CT contrast agents such as iodine-based compounds used in clinical application have several limitations, including short imaging times due to rapid renal clearance, renal toxicity and vascular permeation. Iodinated molecules are applied as contrast agents for CT imaging due to the high x-ray absorption coefficient of iodine and having no adverse effect, but their rapid pharmacokinetic and high viscosity of the injectable solution negates this advantage. In this paper, qualitatively and quantitative enhancement of image using gold nanoparticles using microCT for phantom and animal experiment in comparison with conventional iodinated contrast imaging agent were evaluated. Contrast enhancement at various microCT x-ray tube potential ranging from 40kVp to 90 kVp using gold nanoparticle and iodinated contrast media were evaluated. Digital images obtained were compared and analyzed using ImageJ software. Contrast-to-noise ratio is used to quantify contrast enhancement. Image enhancement of gold nanoparticles at low and high kVp potentials is expected.

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Disciplines

Biological and Chemical Physics | Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Physics

Note

Abstract only

Keywords

Diagnostic imaging; Microcomputed tomography; Contrast media (Diagnostic imaging); Nanoparticles

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