Self‐Assembled Nano‐CT Contrast Agent Leveraging Size Aggregation for Improved In Vivo Tumor CT Imaging

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) is a widely utilized noninvasive diagnostic tool in clinical practice. However, the commonly employed small molecular iodinated contrast agents (ICAs) in clinical CT imaging have limitations such as nonspecific distribution in body, rapid clearance through kidneys, etc., leading to a narrow imaging time window. In contrast, existing nano‐sized ICAs face challenges like structural uncertainty, poor reproducibility, low iodine content, and uniformity issues. In this study, we present a novel approach utilizing the aggregation‐induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) to design and fabricate a kind of monocomponent nano‐sized ICA (namely BioDHU‐CT NPs) that exhibits a unique aggregation effect upon activation. The small sized BioDHU‐CT nanoparticles exhibit excellent tumor targeting capabilities and can release ICA modified with AIEgen with a high release efficiency up to 88.45%, under the activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) highly expressed in tumor regions. The released ICA performs in situ aggregation capability in the tumor region, which can enhance the retention efficiency of CT contrast agents, extending the imaging time window and improving the imaging quality in tumor regions.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Glutathione and acid dual-responsive bismuth-based nanosensitizer for chemo-mediated cancer sonodynamic therapy

“…Cancer remains a significant global health challenge, with traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy showing limitations in terms of safety and efficacy, often accompanied by severe side effects [1][2][3]. Researchers have explored non-invasive approaches such as near-infrared (NIR) and ultrasound (US) for cancer treatment in pursuit of novel therapeutic modalities [4][5][6].…”