A hybrid composite
of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and porous silicon
microparticles (pSiMPs) was developed and applied for the computed
tomography (CT) scanning of the lungs as an image-guided localization
agent. We confirmed the grafting of AgNPs on oxidized pSiMPs template
using various analytical equipment, including a scanning electron
microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy,
X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
(EDS). The hybrid composite showed a high CT contrast intensity (>1000
HU) that enabled us to produce and view images of the lungs. In addition,
it showed the ability to maintain a strong CT signal at the injected
area of the rabbit’s lungs, up to an hour, without spreading.
The lack of toxicity and immune response indicated that the composite
could be fully utilized as a new image-guided localization agent of
CT scans for lung cancer surgery.