Preparation of AgI/Silica/Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Nanoparticle Colloid Solution and X-Ray Imaging Using It

This work performed X-ray imaging of mouse by using aqueous colloid solution of AgI nanoparticles coated with silica (AgI/SiO2) and then surface-modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (AgI/SiO2/PEG). A colloid solution of AgI nanoparticles was prepared by mixing silver perchlorate and potassium iodide in water. The AgI nanoparticles were surface-modified with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane and then were silica-coated by a sol-gel reaction between tetraethylorthosilicate and H2O catalyzed with NaOH in ethanol. The AgI/SiO2 particle surface was modified with PEG by using methoxy PEG silane . The AgI/SiO2/PEG colloid solution revealed a computed tomography value as high as 1343.6 HU at an iodine concentration of 0.1 M, which was higher than a commercial X-ray contrast agent with the same iodine concentration. Tissues of mouse could be imaged by injecting the concentrated colloid solution into them.