A Proposed Computed Tomography Contrast Agent Using Carboxybetaine Zwitterionic Tantalum Oxide Nanoparticles: Imaging, Biological, and Physicochemical Performance.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The aim of this study was to produce and evaluate a proposed computed tomography (CT) contrast agent based on carboxybetaine zwitterionic (CZ)-coated soluble tantalum oxide (TaO) nanoparticles (NPs). We chose tantalum to provide superior imaging performance compared with current iodine-based clinical CT contrast agents. We developed the CZ coating to provide biological and physical performance similar to that of current iodinated contrast agents. In addition, the aim of this study was to evaluate the imaging, biological, and physicochemical performance of this proposed contrast agent compared with clinically used iodinated agents.

Materials and methods

We evaluated CT imaging performance of our CZ-TaO NPs compared with that of an iodinated agent in live rats, imag

SUBMITTER: FitzGerald PF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5079849 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature