Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles as a Blood-Pool Contrast Agent for X-ray Computed Tomography in Mice

AbstractAim: In the current study, some imaging characteristics of AuNPs were quantitatively analyzed and compared with two conventional contrast media (CM) including Iodine and Gadolinium by using of a cylindrical phantom.Methods: AuNPs were synthesized with the mean diameter of 16 nm and were equalized to the concentration of 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg/mL in the same volumes. A cylindrical phantom resembling the head and neck was fabricated and drilled to contain small tubes filled with Iodine, Gadolinium, and AuNPs as contrast media. The phantom was scanned in different exposure techniques and CT numbers of three studied contrast media inside test tubes were measured in terms of Hounsfield Unit (HU). The imaging parameters of the noise and contrast to noise ratios (CNR) were calculated for all studied CMs.Results: AuNPs showed 128% and 166% higher CT number in comparison with Iodine and Gadolinium respectively. Also, Iodine had a greater CT number than Gadolinium for the same exposure techniques and concentration. The maximum CT number for AuNPs and studied contrast materials was obtained at the highest mAs and the lowest tube potential. The maximum CT number were 1033±11 (HU) for AuNP, 565±10 (HU) for Iodine, 458±11 for Gadolinium. Moreover, the maximum CNRs of 433±117, 203±53, 145±37 were found for AuNPs, Iodine and Gadolinium respectively.Conclusion: The contrast agent based on AuNPs showed higher imaging quality in terms of contrast and noise relative to other iodine and gadolinium based contrast media in X-ray computed tomography. Application of the AuNPs as a contrast medium in x-ray CT is recommended.

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Gold Nanoparticles for X-ray Computed Tomography Imaging

The World Scientific Encyclopedia of Nanomedicine and Bioengineering I ◽

10.1142/9789813202535_0001 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 1-27

Author(s):

Benqing Zhou ◽

Jianzhi Zhu ◽

Xiangyang Shi

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Gold Nanoparticles ◽

Computed Tomography Imaging ◽

X Ray ◽

Tomography Imaging ◽

X Ray Computed

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K-edge Subtraction Computed Tomography with a Compact Synchrotron X-ray Source

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-49899-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Stephanie Kulpe ◽

Martin Dierolf ◽

Benedikt Günther ◽

Madleen Busse ◽

Klaus Achterhold ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Contrast Agent ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

X Rays ◽

Synchrotron Source ◽

X Ray ◽

Inverse Compton Scattering ◽

Inverse Compton ◽

X Ray Computed ◽

Compact Light Source

Abstract In clinical diagnosis, X-ray computed tomography (CT) is one of the most important imaging techniques. Yet, this method lacks the ability to differentiate similarly absorbing substances like commonly used iodine contrast agent and calcium which is typically seen in calcifications, kidney stones and bones. K-edge subtraction (KES) imaging can help distinguish these materials by subtracting two CT scans recorded at different X-ray energies. So far, this method mostly relies on monochromatic X-rays produced at large synchrotron facilities. Here, we present the first proof-of-principle experiment of a filter-based KES CT method performed at a compact synchrotron X-ray source based on inverse-Compton scattering, the Munich Compact Light Source (MuCLS). It is shown that iodine contrast agent and calcium can be clearly separated to provide CT volumes only showing one of the two materials. These results demonstrate that KES CT at a compact synchrotron source can become an important tool in pre-clinical research.

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