title: Gentamicin-gold nanoparticles conjugate: a contrast agent for X-ray imaging of infectious foci due to Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: There is no optimal imaging method for the detection of unknown infectious foci in some diseases. This study introduces a novel method in X-ray imaging of infection foci due to Staphylococcus aureus by developing a contrast agent based on gold nanoparticles (GNPs). GNPs in spherical shape were synthesised by the reduction of tetrachloroauric acid with sodium citrate. Then gentamicin was bound directly to citrate functionalised GNPs and the complex was stabilised by polyethylene glycol. The interaction of gentamicin with GNPs was confirmed by ultraviolet-visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies. The stability of complex was studied in human blood up to 6 h. The stability of conjugate was found to be high in human blood with no aggregation. The biodistribution study showed localisation of gentamicin-GNPs conjugate at the site of Staphylococcal infection. The infection site was properly visualised in X-ray images in mouse model using the gentamicin-GNPs conjugate as a contrast agent. The results demonstrated that one may consider the potential of new nanodrug as a contrast agent for X-ray imaging of infection foci in human beings which needs more investigations.
authors.affiliation: Young Researchers and Elite Club, Hidaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hidaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahangari
authors.affiliation: Biology Research Center, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran. saloutim@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salouti
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Paramedical and Health Sciences, Zanjan University of Medical Science, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Faranak
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saghatchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D058726:Nanoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D005839:Gentamicins; D058726:Nanoconjugates; D006046:Gold