Blood-pool contrast agent for pre-clinical computed tomography

Charmainne Cruje; Justin J. Tse; David W. Holdsworth; Elizabeth R. Gillies; Maria Drangova

doi:10.1117/12.2255581

9 March 2017 Blood-pool contrast agent for pre-clinical computed tomography

Charmainne Cruje, Justin J. Tse, David W. Holdsworth, Elizabeth R. Gillies, Maria Drangova

Proceedings Volume 10132, Medical Imaging 2017: Physics of Medical Imaging; 101321M (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2255581
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2017, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Advances in nanotechnology have led to the development of blood-pool contrast agents for micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Although long-circulating nanoparticle-based agents exist for micro-CT, they are predominantly based on iodine, which has a low atomic number. Micro-CT contrast increases when using elements with higher atomic numbers (i.e. lanthanides), particularly at higher energies. The purpose of our work was to develop and evaluate a lanthanide-based blood-pool contrast agent that is suitable for in vivo micro-CT. We synthesized a contrast agent in the form of polymer-encapsulated Gd nanoparticles and evaluated its stability in vitro. The synthesized nanoparticles were shown to have an average diameter of 127 ± 6 nm, with good size dispersity. Particle size distribution -- evaluated by dynamic light scattering over the period of two days -- demonstrated no change in size of the contrast agent in water and saline. Additionally, our contrast agent was stable in a mouse serum mimic for up to 30 minutes. CT images of the synthesized contrast agent (containing 27 mg/mL of Gd) demonstrated an attenuation of over 1000 Hounsfield Units. This approach to synthesizing a Gd-based blood-pool contrast agent promises to enhance the capabilities of micro-CT imaging.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Charmainne Cruje, Justin J. Tse, David W. Holdsworth, Elizabeth R. Gillies, and Maria Drangova "Blood-pool contrast agent for pre-clinical computed tomography", Proc. SPIE 10132, Medical Imaging 2017: Physics of Medical Imaging, 101321M (9 March 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2255581

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available