We set out to achieve a scalable, in quantity, and controllable, in size and morphology, synthesis for elemental bismuth nanoparticles (Bi NPs) that employs biologically benign reagents and results in large (> 50 nm diameter), highly X-ray opaque, aqueous Bi NP colloids.  Herein, we report the gram scale synthesis of large, uniform (74 �14 nm), hydrophilic Bi NPs from bismuth(III) nitrate that uses glucose as a biocompatible, small molecule surfactant, morpholine borane as a reducing agent, and biocompatible 1,2-propanediol as a reaction solvent. We demonstrate the high clinical X-ray opacity of these particles in quantitative X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) imaging studies, using anatomically representative (body phantoms) and cellular hosts. We furthermore show retained cell viability upon short exposures (1 hour) of Bi NPs to both HeLa and macrophage cell lines.

Synthesis, X-ray opacity, and biological compatibility of elemental bismuth nanoparticle X-ray contrast agents

247th National Meeting (2014)

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