title: An early investigation of ytterbium nanocolloids for selective and quantitative "multicolor" spectral CT imaging.
abstract: We report a novel molecular imaging agent based on ytterbium designed for use with spectral "multicolor" computed tomography (CT). Spectral CT or multicolored CT provides all of the benefits of traditional CT, such as rapid tomographic X-ray imaging, but in addition, it simultaneously discriminates metal-rich contrast agents based on the element's unique X-ray K-edge energy signature. Our synthetic approach involved the use of organically soluble Yb(III) complex to produce nanocolloids of Yb of noncrystalline nature incorporating a high density of Yb (>500K/nanoparticle) into a stable metal particle. The resultant particles are constrained to vasculature (∼200 nm) and are highly selective for binding fibrin in the ruptured atherosclerotic plaque. Nanoparticles exhibited excellent signal sensitivity, and the spectral CT technique uniquely discriminates the K-edge signal (60 keV) of Yb from calcium (bones). Bioelimination and preliminary biodistribution reflected the overall safety and defined clearance of these particles in a rodent model.
authors.affiliation: C-TRAIN and Division of Cardiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 4320 Forest Park Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63108, United States. dipanjan@wustl.edu
authors.forename: Dipanjan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Carsten O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Schirra
authors.forename: Angana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Senpan
authors.forename: Anne H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Schmieder
authors.forename: Allen J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Stacy
authors.forename: Ewald
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roessl
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thran
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wickline
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Proska
authors.forename: Gregory M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lanza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002214:Capsules; D003102:Colloids; D003116:Color; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D051379:Mice; D049329:Nanostructures; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D015018:Ytterbium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D003102:Colloids; D015018:Ytterbium