Rapid Sonochemically-Assisted Synthesis of Highly Stable Gold Nanoparticles as Computed Tomography Contrast Agents

Abstract

One of the most widely used modalities of clinical imaging is computed tomography (CT). Recent reports of new contrast agents toward CT imaging have been numerous. The production of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as contrast agents for CT is primarily a topic of intense interest. AuNPs have beneficial features for this application, including excellent X-ray attenuation, flexible sizes and shapes, tailorable surface chemistry, excellent biocompatibility and high levels of contrast generating matter. AuNPs with a size of about 18.5 nm and semi-spherical shape were synthesized using a sonochemical method. The attenuation rate of X-rays as measured in Hounsfield units per unit concentration (HU/mg) was measured. Ultrasound treatment for a duration of five min has been shown to produce highly stable AuNPs in different media (AuNPs in water and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was −42.1 mV and −39.5 mV, respectively). The CT value (HU = 395) of the AuNPs increased linearly with an increase in the AuNP dosage. The results confirm the use of ultrasonic treatment for the production of metal nanostructures, particularly highly stable non-toxic AuNPs, with good morphology and high-quality crystal structure using an easy and fast method. Synthesized AuNPs have the potential to be used as a CT contrast agent in medical imaging applications.

Recent Advances in Inorganic Nanomaterials Synthesis Using Sonochemistry: A Comprehensive Review on Iron Oxide, Gold and Iron Oxide Coated Gold Nanoparticles

“…Fe 3 O 4 @Au NPs-BSA has developed a new approach in addition to novel applications of magnetic NPs in studies of large concentrations of protein target enantiomers. All in all, the results confirm that the use of sonochemical for the production of metal nanostructures provides highly stable, eco-friendly and cost-effective particularly nontoxic nanoparticles with good morphology and high-quality crystal structures [ 80 ].…”

“…This method is a relatively powerful and straightforward technique for producing nanomaterials, and it is possible to control the properties of nanoparticles by modifying the parameters of the ultrasonic process [ 78 , 79 ]. AuNPs with semispherical shapes and average size distributions of about 18.5 were produced through an economical sonochemical method in which the nanoparticles were produced with ultrasounds from droplets of the metal salt precursor solution ( Figure 2 ) [ 80 ]. The sonicator probe model (SONICS Ultra-cell MODEL: VC 750) operated for synthesis has an output power, frequency and tip size of 17.9 W·cm 2 , 20 kHz and half an inch, respectively.…”

“… ( a , b ) TEM photograph with a scale bar of 50 nm and ( c ) AuNPs with a size distribution of about 18.5 nm synthesized within 5 min at an ultrasonic output power of 17.9 W [ 80 ]. …”

Monodisperse Gold Nanoparticles: A Review on Synthesis and Their Application in Modern Medicine

“…AuNPs in medical applications have sparked attention in recent decades due to their intrinsic features, which make them suited for cancer diagnosis and treatment. AuNPs, like many valuable metals, have a superior optical feature called surface plasmon resonance (SPR), which permits them to be employed in near-infrared (NIR) resonant medical imaging modalities, including computed tomography (CT) [5], X-ray scatter imaging [6],…”

The Effect of Tripolyphosphate (TPP) Volumes on the Synthesis of Chitosan Nanoparticles Using Ionic Gelation Method

“…Based on previous studies, there were several methods involving chemical reactions in the preparation of the NPs. They are sonochemical method [11,12], ionic gelation method [13,14] and polyelectrolyte complexation method [14]. In this study, chitosan NPs were prepared using ionic gelation method with various volume ratios of chitosan/TPP to evaluate the effect of TPP solution in the synthesis of chitosan NPs.…”