title: PEGylated hybrid ytterbia nanoparticles as high-performance diagnostic probes for in vivo magnetic resonance and X-ray computed tomography imaging with low systemic toxicity.
abstract: Novel nanoparticulate contrast agents with low systemic toxicity and inexpensive character have exhibited more advantages over routinely used small molecular contrast agents for the diagnosis and prognosis of disease. Herein, we designed and synthesized PEGylated hybrid ytterbia nanoparticles as high-performance nanoprobes for X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging both in vitro and in vivo. These well-defined nanoparticles were facile to prepare and cost-effective, meeting the criteria as a biomedical material. Compared with routinely used Iobitridol in clinic, our PEG-Yb2O3:Gd nanoparticles could provide much significantly enhanced contrast upon various clinical voltages ranging from 80 kVp to 140 kVp owing to the high atomic number and well-positioned K-edge energy of ytterbium. By the doping of gadolinium, our nanoparticulate contrast agent could perform perfect MR imaging simultaneously, revealing similar organ enrichment and bio-distribution with the CT imaging results. The super improvement in imaging efficiency was mainly attributed to the high content of Yb and Gd in a single nanoparticle, thus making these nanoparticles suitable for dual-modal diagnostic imaging with a low single-injection dose. In addition, detailed toxicological study in vitro and in vivo indicated that uniformly sized PEG-Yb2O3:Gd nanoparticles possessed excellent biocompatibility and revealed overall safety.
authors.affiliation: State Key laboratory of Rare Earth Resources Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qinghai
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Zhengqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Xiaogang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008422:Materials Testing; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D015018:Ytterbium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D005682:Gadolinium; D015018:Ytterbium