We report the synthesis of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified low generation dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles for in vivo computed tomography (CT) imaging applications. In this study, amine-terminated generation 2 poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers were pre-modified with PEG monomethyl ether with carboxyl end group (mPEG-COOH), and then employed as templates to form gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The formed PEGylated Au DENPs were characterized via different techniques. We show that the formed PEGylated Au DENPs with Au core size of 2.8 nm are stable under different pH (5-8) and temperature (4-50 oC) conditions, as well as in different aqueous media. X-ray absorption coefficient measurements show that the attenuation intensity of PEGylated Au DENPs is much higher than that of Omnipaque (a clinically used CT contrast agent) at the same concentration of the radiodense elements (Au or iodine). MTT cell viability assay data reveal that the PEGylated Au DENPs are non-cytotoxic in the given particle concentration range. Importantly, the PEGylated Au DENPs enable in vivo blood pool CT imaging and tumor CT imaging via the known enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect. With the simple synthesis approach and the use of cost-effective low generation dendrimers, the developed PEGylated Au DENPs hold great promise to be used as contrast agents for CT imaging of different biological systems.

Synthesis of PEGylated low generation dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles for CT imaging applications

247th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.