Earlier detection of breast cancer reduces mortality from this disease. As a result, the development of better screening techniques is a topic of intense interest. Contrast-enhanced dual-energy mammography (DEM) is a novel technique that has improved sensitivity for cancer detection. However, the development of contrast agents for this technique is in its infancy. We herein report gold-silver alloy nanoparticles (GSAN) that have potent DEM contrast properties and improved biocompatibility. GSAN formulations containing a range of gold:silver ratios and capped with m-PEG were synthesized and characterized using various analytical methods. DEM and computed tomography (CT) phantom imaging showed that GSAN produced robust contrast that was comparable to silver alone. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species generation and DNA damage results revealed that the formulations with 30% or higher gold content are cytocompatible to Hep G2 and J774A.1 cells. In vivo imaging was performed in mice with and without breast tumors. The results showed that GSAN produce strong DEM and CT contrast and accumulated in tumors. Furthermore, both in vivo imaging and ex vivo analysis indicated the excretion of GSAN via both urine and feces. In summary, GSAN produce strong DEM and CT contrast, and has potential for both blood pool imaging and for breast cancer screening.

Significant effort has been focused on developing renally clearable nanoparticle agents since efficient renal clearance is important for eventual clinical translation. Silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag2S-NP) have recently been identified as contrast agents for dual-energy mammography, computed tomography (CT), and fluorescence imaging and probes for drug delivery and photothermal therapy with good biocompatibility. However, most Ag2S-NP reported to date are not renally excretable and are observed in vivo to accumulate and remain in the reticuloendothelial system (RES) organs, i.e., liver and spleen, for a long time, which could negatively impact their likelihood for translation. Herein, we present renally clearable, 3.1 nm Ag2S-NP with 85% of the injected dose (ID) being excreted within 24 h of intravenous injection, which is among the best clearance of similarly sized nanoparticles reported thus far (mostly between 20 and 75% of ID). The urinary excretion and low RES accumulation of these nanoparticles in mice were indicated by in vivo CT imaging and biodistribution analysis. In summary, these ultrasmall Ag2S-NP can be effectively eliminated via urine and have high translational potential for various biomedical applications.

Conventional X-ray mammography has low diagnostic sensitivity for women with dense breasts. As a result, alternative contrast-enhanced screening tools such as dual energy mammography (DEM), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging are being used or investigated for these women. However, currently available contrast agents are non-ideal, have safety issues, and each imaging technique requires a different contrast agent. We therefore sought to develop a multimodal contrast agent that is functional for each breast imaging modality to simplify the diagnosis process and address the issues of existing contrast agents. Herein, we present a novel "all-in-one" nanoparticle (AION) multimodal imaging probe that has potent DEM, CT, MRI, and NIRF contrast properties and improved biocompatibility. AION were formed by co-encapsulation of a near-infrared fluorophore (DiR), silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag2S-NP), and iron oxide nanoparticles (IO-NP) in PEGylated micelles. AION showed negligible cytotoxicity, which was in agreement with its minimal silver ion release profiles. AION generated strong contrast with all imaging modalities as demonstrated in phantom imaging. AION allowed in vivo tumor imaging as evidenced by the increase in contrast after injection. This study indicates the potential of AION as an effective multimodal contrast agent for breast cancer diagnosis with a range of imaging methods.

Silver telluride nanoparticles (Ag2Te NPs) show good biocompatibility, enhanced contrast, and blood pool agent characteristics and thus could be used contrast agents for breast cancer screening.

Objective Dual-energy (DE) mammography has recently entered the clinic. Previous theoretical and phantom studies demonstrated that silver provides greater contrast than iodine for this technique. Our objective was to characterize and evaluate in vivo a prototype silver contrast agent ultimately intended for DE mammography. Methods The prototype silver contrast agent was synthesized using a three-step process: synthesis of a silver core, silica encapsulation, and PEG coating. The nanoparticles were then injected into mice to determine their accumulation in various organs, blood half-life, and dual-energy contrast. All animal procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Results The final diameter of the nanoparticles was measured to be 102 (± 9) nm. The particles were removed from the vascular circulation with a half-life of 15 minutes, and accumulated in macrophage-rich organs such as the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Dual-energy subtraction techniques increased the signal difference-to-noise ratio of the particles by as much as a factor of 15.2 compared to the single-energy images. These nanoparticles produced no adverse effects in mice. Conclusion Silver nanoparticles are an effective contrast agent for dual-energy x-ray imaging. With further design improvements, silver nanoparticles may prove valuable in breast cancer screening and diagnosis.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract