Noninvasive Diagnosis of Kidney Dysfunction Using a Small-Molecule Manganese-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging Probe

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) is a promising approach for the diagnosis of kidney diseases. However, safety concerns, including nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, limit the administration of gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents (GBCAs) in patients who suffer from renal impairment. Meanwhile, nanomaterials meet biosafety concerns because of their long-term retention in the body. Herein, we propose a small-molecule manganese-based imaging probe Mn-PhDTA as an alternative to GBCAs to assess renal insufficiency for the first time. Mn-PhDTA was synthesized via a simple three-step reaction with a total yield of up to 33.6%, and a gram-scale synthesis can be realized. Mn-PhDTA has an r1 relaxivity of 2.72 mM–1 s–1 at 3.0 T and superior kinetic inertness over Gd-DTPA and Mn-EDTA with a dissociation time of 60 min in the presence of excess Zn2+. In vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrate their good stability and biocompatibility. In the unilateral ureteral obstruction rats, Mn-PhDTA provided significant MR signal enhancement, enabled distinguishing structure changes between the normal and damaged kidneys, and evaluated the renal function at different injured stages. Mn-PhDTA could act as a potential MRI contrast agent candidate for the replacement of GBCAs in the early detection of kidney dysfunction and analysis of kidney disease progression

Fabrication of Multifunctional Gd₂O₃/Au Hybrid Nanoprobe via a One-Step Approach for Near-Infrared Fluorescence and Magnetic Resonance Multimodal Imaging in Vivo

Facile fabrication of multimodal imaging probes is highly desired for bioimaging application due to their integrated advantages of several imaging modalities. Here, we report a simple and one-step mild strategy to fabricate a multifunctional Gd₂O₃/Au hybrid nanoprobe. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as the template in the biomineralization synthesis. The fabricated BSA-Gd₂O₃/Au nanoprobe showed excellent chemical stability, intense near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence, and good magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ability. The multimodal imaging potential of the prepared multifunctional nanoprobe was demonstrated by successful NIR fluorescent and magnetic resonance blood pool imaging. Further modification of BSA-Gd₂O₃/Au with arginine–glycine–aspartic acid peptide c­(RGDyK) (RGD) enabled the nanoprobe for targeted tumor imaging in vivo

Noninvasive Gastrointestinal Tract Imaging Using BSA-Ag₂Te Quantum Dots as a CT/NIR-II Fluorescence Dual-Modal Imaging Probe in Vivo

The combination of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) and the real-time sensitive second near-infrared window (NIR-II) fluorescence bioimaging can provide complementary information for the diagnosis, progression and prognosis of gastrointestinal disorders. Ag2Te quantum dots (QDs) are a kind of promising CT/NIR-II fluorescence dual-modal imaging probe due to their high atomic number and narrow bandgap. However, conventional Ag2Te QDs synthesized by oil phase approaches often suffer from complicated steps, harsh reaction conditions, and toxic organic solvents. Herein, we report the synthesis of bovine serum albumin (BSA)-Ag2Te QDs using a biomineralization approach for CT/NIR-II fluorescence dual-modal imaging of the gastrointestinal tract. The BSA-Ag2Te QDs are fabricated in a facile one-pot approach under mild conditions and exhibit homogeneous size, favorable monodispersity, admirable aqueous solubility, excellent X-ray attenuation properties, and outstanding NIR-II fluorescence performance. In vivo imaging experiments show that BSA-Ag2Te QDs can be used in gastrointestinal tract CT/NIR-II dual-modal imaging with high spatiotemporal resolution and sensitivity. In addition, in an intestinal obstruction mouse model, accurate lesion positioning and imaging-guided obstruction relief surgery are successfully realized based on BSA-Ag2Te QDs. Besides, BSA-Ag2Te QDs have outstanding biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. This study presents a high-performance and biosafe CT/NIR-II fluorescence dual-modal imaging probe for visualizing the gastrointestinal tract in vivo

Noninvasive Gastrointestinal Tract Imaging Using BSA-Ag₂Te Quantum Dots as a CT/NIR-II Fluorescence Dual-Modal Imaging Probe in Vivo

The combination of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) and the real-time sensitive second near-infrared window (NIR-II) fluorescence bioimaging can provide complementary information for the diagnosis, progression and prognosis of gastrointestinal disorders. Ag2Te quantum dots (QDs) are a kind of promising CT/NIR-II fluorescence dual-modal imaging probe due to their high atomic number and narrow bandgap. However, conventional Ag2Te QDs synthesized by oil phase approaches often suffer from complicated steps, harsh reaction conditions, and toxic organic solvents. Herein, we report the synthesis of bovine serum albumin (BSA)-Ag2Te QDs using a biomineralization approach for CT/NIR-II fluorescence dual-modal imaging of the gastrointestinal tract. The BSA-Ag2Te QDs are fabricated in a facile one-pot approach under mild conditions and exhibit homogeneous size, favorable monodispersity, admirable aqueous solubility, excellent X-ray attenuation properties, and outstanding NIR-II fluorescence performance. In vivo imaging experiments show that BSA-Ag2Te QDs can be used in gastrointestinal tract CT/NIR-II dual-modal imaging with high spatiotemporal resolution and sensitivity. In addition, in an intestinal obstruction mouse model, accurate lesion positioning and imaging-guided obstruction relief surgery are successfully realized based on BSA-Ag2Te QDs. Besides, BSA-Ag2Te QDs have outstanding biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. This study presents a high-performance and biosafe CT/NIR-II fluorescence dual-modal imaging probe for visualizing the gastrointestinal tract in vivo

Activatable Multifunctional Persistent Luminescence Nanoparticle/Copper Sulfide Nanoprobe for in Vivo Luminescence Imaging-Guided Photothermal Therapy

Multifunctional nanoprobes that provide diagnosis and treatment features have attracted great interest in precision medicine. Near-infrared (NIR) persistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNPs) are optimal materials due to no in situ excitation needed, deep tissue penetration, and high signal-to-noise ratio, while activatable optical probes can further enhance signal-to-noise ratio for the signal turn-on nature. Here, we show the design of an activatable multifunctional PLNP/copper sulfide (CuS)-based nanoprobe for luminescence imaging-guided photothermal therapy in vivo. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-specific peptide substrate (H₂N–GPLGVRGC–SH) was used to connect PLNP and CuS to build a MMP activatable system. The nanoprobe not only possesses ultralow-background for in vivo luminescence imaging due to the absence of autofluorescence and optical activatable nature but also offers effective photothermal therapy from CuS nanoparticles. Further bioconjugation of c­(RGDyK) enables the nanoprobe for cancer-targeted luminescence imaging-guided photothermal therapy. The good biocompatibility and the multiple functions of highly sensitive tumor-targeting luminescence imaging and effective photothermal therapy make the nanoprobe promising for theranostic application

Facile Synthesis of Uniform-Sized Bismuth Nanoparticles for CT Visualization of Gastrointestinal Tract in Vivo

High-performance and biocompatible contrast agents are the key to accurate diagnosis of various diseases in vivo via CT imaging. Fabrication of pure Bi nanoparticles is the best way to maximize X-ray absorption efficiency due to the ultrahigh X-ray attenuation ability of Bi and 100% content of Bi element. However, high-quality Bi nanoparticles prepared through a facile strategy are still lacking. Herein, we report a simple noninjection method to fabricate uniformly sized pure Bi nanoparticles using only two commercial reagents by simply heating the mixture of raw materials in a short time. The obtained Bi nanoparticles owned highly uniform size, excellent monodispersity, and impressive antioxidant capacity. After being modified with oligosaccharide, the “sweet” Bi nanoprobe with comfortable patient experience and favorable biocompatibility was successfully used in CT visualization of gastrointestinal tract in detail