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- Title
Dextran-encapsulated barium sulfate nanoparticles prepared for aqueous dispersion as an X-ray contrast agent.
- Authors
Meagher, Matthew J.; Leone, Bridget; Turnbull, Travis L.; Ross, Ryan D.; Zhang, Zhenyuan; Roeder, Ryan K.
- Abstract
Barium sulfate (BaSO 4) nanoparticles (<100 nm) are of interest to provide improved performance over microscale BaSO 4 particles, which are currently used clinically as an X-ray contrast agent or radiopacifier, and to further enable passive or targeted delivery of BaSO 4 contrast agents. The stability of BaSO 4 nanoparticle dispersions in aqueous media is critical for these uses but has received little attention. Therefore, the objective of this study was to prepare and characterize a BaSO 4 nanoparticle contrast agent with colloidal stability in aqueous media. Monodisperse BaSO 4 nanoparticles, ~13 nm in diameter, were synthesized using water-in-oil nanoemulsions wherein the aqueous droplet size limited particle growth and the surfactant layer provided a barrier against aggregation. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were readily redispersed in organic solvents but agglomerated when redispersed in aqueous media due to exhibiting a low, nearly isoelectric zeta potential at neutral pH. Therefore, the as-synthesized BaSO 4 nanoparticles were subsequently encapsulated by crosslinked dextran within the nanoemulsion droplets in order to provide both steric and electrostatic stabilization upon breaking the nanoemulsion. Dextran encapsulation increased the particle diameter to ~40 nm, but enabled BaSO 4 nanoparticles to be readily redispersed in water and maintain colloidal stability for more than a month. The X-ray attenuation of dispersed dextran-encapsulated BaSO 4 nanoparticles was not different from that measured for either a commercial microscale BaSO 4 suspension or a solution of barium ions prepared in water at an equal mass concentration of barium, but was significantly greater than the attenuation exhibited by soft tissues. Thus, dextran-encapsulated BaSO 4 nanoparticles appear to be suitable for passive or targeted delivery as an X-ray contrast agent. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
- Subjects
DEXTRAN; MICROENCAPSULATION; BARIUM sulfate; NANOPARTICLES; CHEMICAL sample preparation; AQUEOUS solutions; X-rays; EMULSIONS
- Publication
Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2013, Vol 15, Issue 12, p1
- ISSN
1388-0764
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11051-013-2146-8