title: Gold nanoparticles obtained by aqueous digestive ripening: Their application as X-ray contrast agents.
abstract: A preparative protocol to synthesize large quantities of size-controlled gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), stabilized by CH3O-PEG5000-SH (PEG-SH) in aqueous medium, is reported. The combination of metal vapor synthesis (MVS) technique with digestive ripening process allowed to obtain PEGylated Au NPs with mean core particle size of 3.8nm and hydrodynamic diameters centered at 8.0nm which were effectively used as computed tomography (CT) contrast agents for in vivo experiments on mice. The surface functionalization together with the small hydrodynamic diameters of the engineered Au nanoparticles permitted their efficient renal clearance, still retaining a prolonged blood circulation and a stealth capability.
authors.affiliation: CNR - ISTM, Nanotechnology Lab., Via G. Fantoli 16/15, 20138 Milan, Italy; Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.affiliation: CNR - ISTM, Nanotechnology Lab., Via G. Fantoli 16/15, 20138 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: laura.polito@istm.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polito
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellani
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zambelli
authors.affiliation: CNR - ISTM, Nanotechnology Lab., Via G. Fantoli 16/15, 20138 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Ravindra P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Jumde
authors.affiliation: CNR - ISTM, Nanotechnology Lab., Via G. Fantoli 16/15, 20138 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Psaro
authors.affiliation: CNR - ISTM, Nanotechnology Lab., Via G. Fantoli 16/15, 20138 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: claudio.evangelisti@istm.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Evangelisti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000592:standards; D006046:Gold; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D051379:Mice; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D014867:Water; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006046:Gold
keywords: Au nanoparticles; Digestive ripening; Metal vapor synthesis; X-ray contrast agents