Heavy Metal-Based Nanoparticles as High-Performance X-ray Computed Tomography Contrast Agents

Mohammad Yaseen Ahmad, Shuwen Liu, Tirusew Tegafaw, Abdullah Khamis Ali Al Saidi, Dejun Zhao, Ying Liu, Sung Wook Nam, Yongmin Chang, Gang Ho Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

X-ray computed tomography (CT) contrast agents offer extremely valuable tools and techniques in diagnostics via contrast enhancements. Heavy metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) can provide high contrast in CT images due to the high density of heavy metal atoms with high X-ray attenuation coefficients that exceed that of iodine (I), which is currently used in hydrophilic organic CT contrast agents. Nontoxicity and colloidal stability are vital characteristics in designing heavy metal-based NPs as CT contrast agents. In addition, a small particle size is desirable for in vivo renal excretion. In vitro phantom imaging studies have been performed to obtain X-ray attenuation efficiency, which is a critical parameter for CT contrast agents, and the imaging performance of CT contrast agents has been demonstrated via in vivo experiments. In this review, we focus on the in vitro and in vivo studies of various heavy metal-based NPs in pure metallic or chemical forms, including Au, Pt, Pd, Ag, Ce, Gd, Dy, Ho, Yb, Ta, W, and Bi, and provide an outlook on their use as high-performance CT contrast agents.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1463
JournalPharmaceuticals
Volume16
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2023

Keywords

  • contrast agents
  • heavy metal-based nanoparticles
  • in vitro phantom imaging
  • in vivo imaging
  • X-ray attenuation

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