title: Synthesis and characterization of ethosomal contrast agents containing iodine for computed tomography (CT) imaging applications.
abstract: As a first step in the development of novel liver-specific contrast agents using ethosomes for computed tomography (CT) imaging applications, we entrapped iodine within ethosomes, which are phospholipid vesicular carriers containing relatively high alcohol concentrations, synthesized using several types of alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol, and propanol. The iodine containing ethosomes that were prepared using methanol showed the smallest vesicle size (392 nm) and the highest CT density (1107 HU). The incorporation of cholesterol into the ethosomal contrast agents improved the stability of the ethosomes but made the vesicle size large. The ethosomal contrast agents were taken up well by macrophage cells and showed no cellular toxicity. The results demonstrated that ethosomes containing iodine, as prepared in this study, have potential as contrast agents for applications in CT imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University , Seoul , Korea .
authors.forename: Hanjin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Young-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Kangtaek
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang-Ha
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byoung Wook
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Bumsang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D000431:Ethanol; D008081:Liposomes / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010743:Phospholipids; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D008081:Liposomes; D010743:Phospholipids; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids; D000431:Ethanol; C044834:iodixanol
keywords: Computed tomography (CT); contrast agents; ethosomes; iodine; liver; macrophage