Theranostic Gold Nanoparticles for CT Imaging
Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have unique physical, chemical, and biological properties, which make them ideal candidates for various biomedical applications, including imaging, therapy, and diagnostic systems. Due to the high X-ray attenuation of gold, along
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Introduction One of the major aims in nanomedicine is the ability to perform multiple functions using the same nanovehicle, that is, the ability to achieve both therapeutic and diagnostic imaging capabilities using only a single nanoparticle. The unique physical and optical properties of gold nanoparticles (GNPs), along with the well-known biosafety of gold [1], make GNPs ideal candidates for various biomedical applications, including imaging, therapy, and diagnostic systems. So far, GNPs have been utilized for various therapy applications, such as drug delivery, phototherapy, and radiotherapy, and as a contrast-enhancing agent for computed tomography (CT) and other imaging modalities [2–11]. The wide applications of GNPs and their potential for clinical implementation, as well as the high flexibility in terms of size and shape and the ability to attach multiple types of ligands to their surfaces, have led to varying schemes for developing multifunctional GNPs, with multiple capabilities within a single platform [2, 12, 13]. Compared with other methods, treatment plans involving the use of multifunctional nanoparticles hold the promise of more accurately targeted treatment, with a higher likelihood of a successful outcome. It is this multipronged approach on which many studies have been anchored, since it addresses many issues usually associated with the most aggressive aspects of disease, including multidrug resistance, radioresistance, and recurrence of tumors. Therefore, GNPs have high potential to become the next generation theranostic agents for cancerous diseases. A schematic diagram of potential multifunctional gold nanoparticles for theranostic applications is presented in Fig. 1. This chapter discusses the main approaches for the use of GNPs for both therapy and imaging applications, focusing on multifunctional gold nanoparticles for theranostic applications involving CT imaging. T. Dreifuss • E. Barnoy • M. Motiei • R. Popovtzer (*) Faculty of Engineering and the Institutes of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel e-mail: [email protected] © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017 J.W.M. Bulte, M.M.J. Modo (eds.), Design and Applications of Nanoparticles in Biomedical Imaging, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-42169-8_19
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Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of multifunctional gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Multifunctional GNPs can be prepared by either combining metals with different functionalities or combining functional small-molecules through different surface engineering strategies
2 Gold Nanoparticles as CT Contrast Agents 2.1 Physical Properties X-ray based CT is among the most convenient imaging/diagnostic tools in hospitals today in terms of availability, efficiency, and cost. CT provides superior visualization of bone structures due to the inherent contrast between electron-dense bones and the more permeable surrounding soft tissues. CT, however, is limited in distinguishing between different soft tissues that have similar dens
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