| 초록 |
Recently, the dual imaging technique, which improves the diagnostic performance by combining already existing imaging modalities, has attracted much attention in medicine. Herein, we developed a contrast agent for dual imaging based on Gd2O3 nanoparticle-containing CaCO3-mineralized nanoparticles (Gd2O3-MNPs) that can generate CO2 bubbles for ultrasound (US) imaging and simultaneously release Gd2O3 nanoparticles for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in response to tumoral acidic pH. At physiological pH (7.4), the Gd2O3-MNPs didn’t show noticeable US contrast signals. In contrast, at tumoral pH (6.4), there were strong echogenic signals due to CO2 bubble-generation by the dissolution of CaCO3 minerals. In addition, at tumoral pH, the Gd2O3-MNPs would effectively release Gd2O3 nanoparticles into the aqueous environment, thereby resulting in a strong MR contrast enhancement. This pH-controlled dual contrast agent may provide the improved performance for the diagnosis of various tumors. |
