CT成像纳米探针设计及应用

The design and application of nanoparticulate CT contrast agents

X射线计算机断层扫描技术(X-ray computed tomography,CT)是目前临床医学诊断中最为重要的工具之一.临床使用的CT造影剂主要是一些有机碘类小分子,但是这类小分子造影能力有限、体内循环时间短,极大地限制了CT成像技术在疾病诊断中的应用.相比之下,CT成像纳米探针不仅极大地提升了造影能力,同时具有更好的生物相容性和更长的体内循环时间.更重要的是,其表面易修饰特性有助于多功能成像探针的构建.本文针对近年来CT成像纳米探针的设计及应用进行了简要介绍,并展望了其未来的发展方向.

X-ray computed tomography （CT） is one of the most widely used imaging modalities in the clinic. Current commercialized CT contrast agents are mainly small iodinated molecules. These contrast agents suffer from drawbacks such as short circulation times in vivo. Recent advance highlight the importance of nano-sized CT imaging probes that exhibit good biocompatibility and long circulation time. Most importantly, their surface features enable the design of multifunctional imaging probes. This review provides a comprehensive introduction to recent development of nano- sized CT imaging probes and some future directions are presented.