Dataset Information

Functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes as ultrasound contrast agents.

ABSTRACT: Ultrasonography is a fundamental diagnostic imaging tool in everyday clinical practice. Here, we are unique in describing the use of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as hyperechogenic material, suggesting their potential application as ultrasound contrast agents. Initially, we carried out a thorough investigation to assess the echogenic property of the nanotubes in vitro. We demonstrated their long-lasting ultrasound contrast properties. We also showed that ultrasound signal of functionalized MWCNTs is higher than graphene oxide, pristine MWCNTs, and functionalized single-walled CNTs. Qualitatively, the ultrasound signal of CNTs was equal to that of sulfur hexafluoride (SonoVue), a commercially available contrast agent. Then, we found that MWCNTs were highly echogenic in liver and heart through ex vivo experiments using pig as an animal model. In contrast to the majority of ultrasound contrast agents, we observed in a phantom bladder that the tubes can be visualized within a wide variety of frequencies (i.e., 5.5-10 MHz) and 12.5 MHz using tissue harmonic imaging modality. Finally, we demonstrated in vivo in the pig bladder that MWCNTs can be observed at low frequencies, which are appropriate for abdominal organs. Importantly, we did not report any toxicity of CNTs after 7 d from the injection by animal autopsy, organ histology and immunostaining, blood count, and chemical profile. Our results reveal the enormous potential of CNTs as ultrasound contrast agents, giving support for their future applications as theranostic nanoparticles, combining diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.

SUBMITTER: Delogu LG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3478634 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes as ultrasound contrast agents.

Delogu Lucia Gemma LG Vidili Gianpaolo G Venturelli Enrica E Ménard-Moyon Cécilia C Zoroddu Maria Antonietta MA Pilo Giovannantonio G Nicolussi Paola P Ligios Ciriaco C Bedognetti Davide D Sgarrella Francesco F Manetti Roberto R Bianco Alberto A

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20120924 41

Ultrasonography is a fundamental diagnostic imaging tool in everyday clinical practice. Here, we are unique in describing the use of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as hyperechogenic material, suggesting their potential application as ultrasound contrast agents. Initially, we carried out a thorough investigation to assess the echogenic property of the nanotubes in vitro. We demonstrated their long-lasting ultrasound contrast properties. We also showed that ultrasound signal ...[more]

PMID: 23012426

Similar Datasets

Project description:Currently, there is a lack of ultrasensitive diagnostic tool to detect some diseases such as ischemic stroke, thereby impacting effective and efficient intervention for such diseases at an embryonic stage. In addition to the lack of proper detection of the neurological diseases, there is also a challenge in the treatment of these diseases. Carbon nanotubes have a potential to be employed in solving the theragnostic challenges in those diseases. In this study, carbon nanotubes were successfully synthesized for potential application in the detection and treatment of the neurological diseases such as ischemic stroke. Vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (VA-MWCNTs) were purified with HCl, carboxylated with H2SO4:HNO3 (3:1) and acylated with SOCl2 for use in potential targeting studies and for the design of a carbon-based electrode for possible application in the diagnosis of neurological diseases, including ischemic stroke. MWCNTs were washed, extracted from the filter membranes and dried in a vacuum oven at 60 °C for 24 h prior to functionalization and PEGylation. CNTs were characterized by SEM, TEM, OCA, DLS, CV and EIS. The HCl-treated CNT obtained showed an internal diameter, outer diameter and thickness of 8 nm, 34 nm and 75 µm, while these parameters for the H2SO4-HNO3-treated CNT were 8 nm, 23 nm and 41µm, respectively. PEGylated CNT demonstrated zeta potential, polydispersive index and particle size distribution of 6 mV, 0.41 and 98 nm, respectively. VA-MWCNTs from quartz tube were successfully purified, carboxylated, acylated and PEGylated for potential functionalization for use in targeting studies. For designing the carbon-based electrode, VA-MWCNTs on silicon wafer were successfully incorporated into epoxy resin for diagnostic applications. Functionalized MWCNTs were nontoxic towards PC-12 neuronal cells. In conclusion, vertically super-aligned MWCNTs have been successfully synthesized and functionalized for possible theragnostic biomedical applications in neurological disorders such as ischemic stroke.

Dataset Information

Functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes as ultrasound contrast agents.

Publications

Functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes as ultrasound contrast agents.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets