Anti‐Biofouling Polymer‐Decorated Lutetium‐Based Nanoparticulate Contrast Agents for In Vivo High‐Resolution Trimodal Imaging

Abstract

Nanomaterials have gained considerable attention and interest in the development of novel and high-resolution contrast agents for medical diagnosis and prognosis in clinic. A classical urea-based homogeneous precipitation route that combines the merits of in situ thermal decomposition and surface modification is introduced to construct polyethylene glycol molecule (PEG)-decorated hybrid lutetium oxide nanoparticles (PEG-UCNPs). By utilizing the admirable optical and magnetic properties of the yielded PEG-UCNPs, in vivo up-conversion luminescence and T1 -enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of small animals are conducted, revealing obvious signals after subcutaneous and intravenous injection, respectively. Due to the strong X-ray absorption and high atomic number of lanthanide elements, X-ray computed-tomography imaging based on PEG-UCNPs is then designed and carried out, achieving excellent imaging outcome in animal experiments. This is the first example of the usage of hybrid lutetium oxide nanoparticles as effective nanoprobes. Furthermore, biodistribution, clearance route, as well as long-term toxicity are investigated in detail after intravenous injection in a murine model, indicating the overall safety of PEG-UCNPs. Compared with previous lanthanide fluorides, our nanoprobes exhibit more advantages, such as facile construction process and nearly total excretion from the animal body within a month. Taken together, these results promise the use of PEG-UCNPs as a safe and efficient nanoparticulate contrast agent for potential application in multimodal imaging.

Lanthanide Nanoparticles: From Design toward Bioimaging and Therapy

“…The effect on physical and behavioral signs caused by the introduction of a wide variety of nanoparticles is investigated, 425,487,576,583,584,697,699,700 and the results generally indicate no significant changes as compared to control groups (Figure 72a).…”

Diagnostic imaging and therapeutic application of nanoparticles targeting the liver

“…PEGylated Gd 2 O 3 :Yb 3+ , Er 3+ nanorods, 78 lanthanide-doped Lu 2 O 3 nanoparticles 79 and oleic acid-stabilized Gd-doped NaYbF 4 :Er nanoparticles 73 were successfully developed as long-circulating contrast agents for up- 30 conversion luminescence (UCL), T 1 -enhanced MRI and CT trimodal imaging.…”

Single-layer tungsten oxide as intelligent photo-responsive nanoagents for permanent male sterilization

“…Prior to using PEG-WO 2.72 NSs for in vivo usage, we investigated their in vitro toxicity at first [38,39]. Even after dialysis for half a month in 0.9% NaCl solution, no leaching of free tungsten was found by ICP-MS method due to the effective decoration of PEG molecules on the particulate surface.…”