Nanoparticle-based imaging agents for X-ray/computed tomography and methods for making same

• Main Authors: BONITATIBUS, JR. PETER JOHN, KULKARNI AMIT MOHAN, COLBORN ROBERT EDGAR, BUCKLEY PAUL WILLIAM, TORRES ANDREW SOLIZ, DEMOULPIED DAVID CHENEY
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.10.2015
• Subjects: ADHESIVES; CHEMISTRY; COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSESC01D OR C01F; DYES; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OFSOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS; INORGANIC CHEMISTRY; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METALLURGY; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS; MISCELLANEOUS COMPOSITIONS; NANOTECHNOLOGY; NATURAL RESINS; PAINTS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POLISHES; PREPARATION OF CARBON BLACK; PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR TOILET PURPOSES; SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF INORGANIC MATERIALS, OTHER THAN FIBROUS FILLERS,TO ENHANCE THEIR PIGMENTING OR FILLING PROPERTIES

The present invention is generally directed to core/shell nanoparticles, wherein such core/shell nanoparticles comprise a nanoparticle core and a nanoshell disposed about the nanoparticle core such that, in the aggregate, they form a core/shell nanoparticle that is operable for use as an imaging agent in X-ray/computed tomography (CT). Typically, such core/shell nanoparticle-based X-ray CT imaging agents further comprise a targeting species for targeting the imaging agent to diseased sites. Included herein are methods for forming such agents, comprising forming an ensemble of core/shell nanoparticles, wherein the mean diameter of the ensemble of core/shell nanoparticles is selected so as to render the nanoparticles in the ensemble substantially clearable by a mammalian kidney.