title: A Multimodal Nanocomposite for Biomedical Imaging.
abstract: A multimodal nanocomposite was designed, synthesized with super-paramagnetic core (CoFe2O4), noble metal corona (Au), and semiconductor shell (TiO2). The sizes of core, core-corona, and core-corona-shell particles were determined by TEM. This multimodal nanocrystal showed promise as a contrast agent for two of the most widely used biomedical imaging techniques: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray computed tomography (CT). Finally, these nanocomposites were coated with a peptide SN-50. This led to their ready uptake by the cultured cells and targeted the nanocomposites to the pores of nuclear membrane. Inside cells, this nanocomposite retained its integrity as shown by X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM). Inside cells imaged by XFM we found the complex elemental signature of nanoconjugates (Ti-Co-Fe-Au) always co-registered in the 2D elemental map of the cell.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611 USA ; Division of Functional Materials and Nanodevices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 519 Zhuangshi Rd. Zhenhai District, Ningbo City, Zheijang Province, 315201 P.R. China.
authors.forename: Aiguo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611 USA ; Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611 USA.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paunesku
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611 USA.
authors.forename: Zhuoli
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: X-Ray Operations and Research Division, Advanced Photon source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439 USA.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.affiliation: X-Ray Operations and Research Division, Advanced Photon source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439 USA.
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: X-Ray Operations and Research Division, Advanced Photon source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439 USA.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maser
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611 USA.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yaghmai
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611 USA.
authors.forename: Debiao
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611 USA.
authors.forename: Reed A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Omary
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611 USA ; Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611 USA.
authors.forename: Gayle E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Woloschak
keywords: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; X-ray Computed Tomography; X-ray fluorescence microscopy; multimodal nanoconjugate