title: Engineering iodine-doped carbon dots as dual-modal probes for fluorescence and X-ray CT imaging.
abstract: X-ray computed tomography (CT) is the most commonly used imaging technique for noninvasive diagnosis of disease. In order to improve tissue specificity and prevent adverse effects, we report the design and synthesis of iodine-doped carbon dots (I-doped CDs) as efficient CT contrast agents and fluorescence probe by a facile bottom-up hydrothermal carbonization process. The as-prepared I-doped CDs are monodispersed spherical nanoparticles (a diameter of ~2.7 nm) with favorable dispersibility and colloidal stability in water. The aqueous solution of I-doped CDs showed wavelength-dependent excitation and stable photoluminescence similar to traditional carbon quantum dots. Importantly, I-doped CDs displayed superior X-ray attenuation properties in vitro and excellent biocompatibility. After intravenous injection, I-doped CDs were distributed throughout the body and excreted by renal clearance. These findings validated that I-doped CDs with high X-ray attenuation potency and favorable photoluminescence show great promise for biomedical research and disease diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Miaomiao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Huixiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mingzhong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhongwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lirong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chaoyao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fengyi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D016923:Cell Death; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D061848:Optical Imaging; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D015335:Molecular Probes; D002244:Carbon; D007455:Iodine
keywords: CT imaging; carbon dots; contrast agents; iodine-doped