Contrast Agents for Micro-Computed Tomography of Microdamage in Bone
Abstract
Novel methods have been developed for detecting damaged bone tissue using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and contrast agents with higher x-ray attenuation than bone. The ability to detect the presence and to a limited extent the morphology of microdamage in cortical and trabecular bone using micro-CT was demonstrated using a barium sulfate (BaSO4) stain. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were prepared and functionalized with L-glutamic acid for chelating calcium in damaged bone tissue. The functionalized Au NP contrast agent exhibited damage-specificity confirmed by optical electron and AFM imaging. Functionalized Au NPs were also conjugated with fluorescein to produce a dual contrast agent suitable for both fluorescent microscopy and micro-CT. The small size ( 40 nm) and colloidal stability of functionalized Au NP solutions enabled the contrast agent to readily diffuse into bone tissue which suggests that the contrast agent is deliverable.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA485704
Entities
People
- Ryan K. Roeder
Organizations
- University of Notre Dame