Ultrasmall Bi/BiO nanoparticles as biocompatible and efficient CT imaging contrast agents.

Computed tomography (CT) imaging is a widely used diagnostic tool, but conventional iodine-based contrast agents suffer from limitations such as short circulation time and potential nephrotoxicity. In this study, we present a simple one-pot thermal decomposition method for synthesizing ultrasmall Bi/BiO nanoparticles (NPs) using a commercial Bi(NO) precursor and a surfactant mixture of oleic acid and oleylamine. Oleylamine acts as a reducing agent, facilitating the conversion of Bi to metallic Bi, while the BiO oxide layer is controlled by adjusting the oleic acid-to-oleylamine ratio.

Synthesis of FeO@Au Core-Shell Nanoparticles with Varying Thicknesses for Application in Computed Tomography Imaging.

To enhance the resolution of medical images, core-shell FeO@Au hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) with gold shells of varying thicknesses are developed. By optimizing synthesis conditions, nanoparticles with uniform size, clear core-shell structure, and high stability in biological environments are obtained. In vitro testing data shows that HNPs with a 5-7 nm-thick gold shell exhibits a high X-ray attenuation.

Optical properties and stability of small hollow gold nanoparticles.

In the current work, small hollow Au nanoparticles ( ≈ 16 nm) with excellent thermal stability and high photo-thermal conversion efficiency, which have great potential for use in photo-thermal cancer therapy, were prepared through galvanic replacement reaction between Ag nano-templates and gold salt. The position of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands for these nanoparticles could be tuned by varying the amount of gold salt. The hydrophobic hollow nanostructures were made water-dispersible by being encapsulated with poly(maleic anhydride--1-octadecene) - PMAO.