2134/23303
G. Maiorano
G.
Maiorano
Elisa Mele
Elisa
Mele
C. Frassanito
C.
Frassanito
E. Restini
E.
Restini
Athanassia Athanassiou
Athanassia
Athanassiou
P.P. Pompa
P.P.
Pompa
Ultra-efficient, widely tunable gold nanoparticles-based fiducial markers for X-ray imaging
Loughborough University
2016
untagged
Materials Engineering not elsewhere classified
2016-11-25 11:07:52
Journal contribution
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Ultra-efficient_widely_tunable_gold_nanoparticles-based_fiducial_markers_for_X-ray_imaging/9235583
We show the development of a new class of highly efficient, biocompatible fiducial markers for X-ray imaging and radiosurgery, based on polymer shells encapsulating engineered gold nanoparticle (AuNP)
suspensions. Our smart fabrication strategy enables wide tunability of the fiducial size, shape, and X-ray attenuation performance, up to record values >20 000 Hounsfield units (HU), i.e. comparable to or even higher than bulk gold. We show that the NP fiducials allow for superior imaging both in vitro and in vivo (yet requiring 2 orders of magnitude less material), with strong stability over time and the absence of classical “streak artifacts” of standard bulk fiducials. NP fiducials were probed in vivo, showing exceptional contrast efficiency, even after 2 weeks post-implant in mice.