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Pegylated Deoxycholic Acid Coated Gold Nanoparticles as a Highly Stable CT Contrast Agent
Author(s) -
Mohajeri Mohammad,
Iranpour Pooya,
Vahidi Yasmin,
Haghighi Rezvan Ravanfar,
Faghih Zahra,
Bararjanian Morteza,
Salehi Peyman
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemistryselect
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2365-6549
DOI - 10.1002/slct.202001634
Subject(s) - polyethylene glycol , deoxycholic acid , colloidal gold , peg ratio , nanoparticle , pegylation , linker , chemistry , drug delivery , nuclear chemistry , bile acid , materials science , nanotechnology , combinatorial chemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , finance , computer science , economics , operating system
Abstract The present study has been dedicated to the synthesis of a new and highly stable computed tomography contrast agent based on pegylated deoxycholic acid‐ coated gold nanoparticles (DCA‐PEG‐GNPs) measuring 17 nm in size. To stabilize the gold nanoparticles (GNPs) as well as increasing their vascular retention time, polyethylene glycol, PEG, with a molecular weight of 4 KD, was applied. Besides, for target delivery, deoxycholic acid (DCA) as a biologically active compound and a secondary bile acid, capable of interfering with some cancers, were selected. The bile acid was attached to the nanoparticle's surface with a polyethylene glycol (MW=1 KD) linker via an etherification reaction. Finally, the activity of the prepared compound was studied by means of a clinical CT instrument at various KVp values. The gained results depicted a very high activity of the compound to attenuate X‐rays along with making contrast enhancement, even better than those of Visipaque as a commercial contrast agent. In addition, the DCA‐PEG‐GNPs displayed remarkable stability in a wide range of pHs, i. e . 2.5‐11, and in different temperature conditions, ranging between −78 °C to 48 °C.